Fazlena  Hamzah, Nurul  Hazwani Hanib, Zarina  Omar, Istikamah  Subuki, 
    Biomimetic Apatite Deposition in Modified Dulbecco’s Phosphate-Buffered
Saline Solution on the Alkali-Heat Treated TI6AL4V,
    Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
    Volume 14,Issue 9,
    2019,
    Pages 3083-3093,
    ISSN 1816-949x,
    jeasci.2019.3083.3093,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jeasci.2019.3083.3093)
    Abstract: Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution has been used in biomimetic apatite coating. In some cases, the
apatite formation on the metallic surface may take up to 4 weeks in SBF solution. Increasing the concentration
of SBF seems to work in shortening the period of apatite formation yet the high concentration of unstable SBF
solution is not easy to handle. Another potential solution that mimics human blood plasma to hasten the apatite
formation is Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline. The aim of this research was to investigate the formation
of apatite in Dulbecco&#146;s Phosphate Buffered Saline (DPBS) solution modified with CaCl<sub>2</sub> and MgCl<sub>2</sub> on the surface of alkali treated Ti6Al4V. The bioactive surface on Ti6Al4V was prepared by alkali etching using 5M
NaOH and 5M KOH and consolidated by heat treatment at 500 and 600&deg;C The morphology structure, phase
changes, wettability and chemical composition of apatite coating were characterised. The results demonstrated
that apatite coating in globular rosette-like shape was formed on the surface treated with NaOH and
subsequently heat-treated at 500&deg;C within 3 days of immersion time in DPBS solution. Significantly, the DPBS
solution can be used as a substitute in biomimetic solution for apatite coating at low processing temperatures
for bioactive coating of the medical implant.
    Keywords: Ti6Al4V;alkali treatment;heat treatment;biomimetic;Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline
(DPBS);medical implant