Impact of sintering temperature on the phase composition and antibacterial properties of silver-doped hydroxyapatite

In the present study, the impact of sintering temperature on the phase composition and antibacterial properties of silver-doped hydroxyapatite (HAp/Ag) samples was investigated. HAp/Ag containing 0.2 and 1.2 % silver was prepared using a modified wet chemical precipitation method. The surface morphology and inner structure of the sintered samples were discussed. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies showed that, after the sintering process, HAp/Ag contained a silver oxide phase, which was not observed in raw materials. Phase composition changes at different sintering temperatures were studied, and it was found that silver oxide undergoes phase changes during the sintering process. In vitro antibacterial properties approved the excellent anti microbial activity of HAp/Ag against the bacterial strains Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The HAp/Ag sample with 1.2 % silver content, sintered at 1150 degrees C, showed the highest antibacterial activity.