Fabrication and bioresorbability of Ag- and Ta-containing amorphous calcium phosphate films formed on titanium substrates by RF magnetron sputtering

Silver (Ag)- and tantalum (Ta)-containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) coating films were fabricated on titanium substrates by radiofrequency magnetron sputtering for biomedical applications. The sputtering targets were hot-pressed into 10 mol% Ag-containing ß-tricalcium phosphate sintered compacts with and without 8 mol% Ta. The fabricated ACP coating films were dense and smooth, with all elements distributed homogeneously along the depth direction. In addition, Ag existed as ions in the ACP regardless of the presence of Ta. The resorbability of the Ag-containing ACP coating films in simulated body fluids was suppressed by the addition of Ta. The concentration of detected Ag ions was higher in diluted nutrient broth solution than in Tris-HCl solution