Synthesis of monophasic Ag doped hydroxyapatite and evaluation of antibacterial activity

Highlights: • To determine the optimum concentration of silver to obtain monophasic hydroxyapatite phase. • Bacterial infections are the main cause of implant failure. • Ag⁺ is strong inhibitor to bacterial growth. • HA is biocompatible but possess limited antibacterial properties. - Abstract: The present study aims to synthesized biomaterial that has antibacterial properties. Currently the surgical implants associated infections are a major cause of implant failure. Synthesis of silver doped hydroxyapatite as an antibacterial agent has potential importance to overcome post-surgical infections in a variety of clinical applications. Five silver doped hydroxyapatite Ca_10−xAg_x(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 M) samples were synthesized by precipitation method and sintered at 900 °C to obtain well crystallized structure. No minor phase developed with silver addition, hexagonal hydroxyapatite (JCPDS# 09-432) was the single phase identified in all silver doped hydroxyapatite samples. The lattice parameter a and c changed with increase in silver concentration. The results of in vitro bioactivity revealed the bone bonding ability of silver doped hydroxyapatite samples. The antibacterial test showed that silver doped hydroxyapatite was sensitive to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Addition of silver significantly (P < 0.005) increased the antibacterial activity.