Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Copper-doped hydroxyapatite (5CuHAp) coatings were obtained using the dip-coating technique and comprehensively characterized for structural, surface, and biological performance. X-ray diffraction confirmed phase-pure hydroxyapatite with minimal Cu-induced lattice distortion. XPS revealed Cu 2+ incorporation at 4.8 at. % and surface (Ca + Cu)/P ratio of 1.67. SEM and multiscale AFM showed homogeneous, crack-free coatings with hierarchical nanoscale features; maximum furrow depths ranged 0.022–0.65 μm across MG63 incubation times, with fractal dimensions 2.44–2.57 and high directional anisotropy. Slope and frequency analyses indicated dominant surface orientations and multiscale periodicity (λ = 7.1 μm; phase 86–150°). In vitro MG63 assays demonstrated rapid adhesion, spreading, and proliferation, correlating with nanoscale guidance cues and surface energy landscape. These findings establish adapted sol-gel 5CuHAp coatings as structurally coherent, bioactive, and osteoconductive substrates, offering precise nanoscale topography and compositional control for orthopedic and dental implant applications. The in vitro biocompatibility of the 5CuHAp coatings was evaluated using MG63 human osteosarcoma cells through complementary MTT and LDH assays. The MTT studies revealed high cell viability after 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure, indicating good cytocompatibility and the absence of significant inhibitory effects on the cell viability or proliferation. Furthermore, the LDH assay revealed low levels of enzyme release into the culture medium relative to control cells, suggesting minimal membrane damage and limited cytotoxic effects. Together, these results highlight that the 5CuHAp coatings exhibit favorable biological behavior and support their potential suitability for biomedical applications.
Predoi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.