Papers by Author: Gikan H. Takaoka

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA) films were deposited onto titanium (Ti) metal substrates by an electrodeposition method under a short-pulse current. Metastable calcium phosphate solution was used as the electrolyte. The ion concentration of the solution was 1.5 times that of human body fluid, but the solution did not contain magnesium ions at 36.5°C. We used an average current density of 0.01 A/cm2 and current-on time (TON) equal to current-off time (TOFF) of 10 ms, 100 ms, 1 s, and 15 s. The adhesive strength between HA and Ti substrates were relatively high at TON = TOFF = 10 ms. It is considered that small calcium phosphate crystals with low crystallinity were deposited on the Ti surface without reacting with other calcium phosphate crystals, H2O, and HCO3– in the surrounding environment. This resulted in relaxation of the lattice mismatch and enhancement of the adhesive strength between the HA crystals and Ti substrates.

Abstract: An apatite layer was successfully formed on titanium substrates by electrochemical deposition under a pulse current in a metastable calcium phosphate solution, which had 1.5 times the ion concentrations of a normal simulated body fluid, but did not contain MgCl2·6H2O, at 40 °C for 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes at the average current density of 10 mA/cm2. The thickness of the apatite layer was increased with increasing deposition time. The pulse-current deposition produced the thicker apatite layer than the direct-current deposition, and gave some effects on the surface morphology of the apatite. The pre-treatment using acid solution gave a better adhesive between apatite and substrate. It is expected that the present electrochemical deposition under a pulse current will be useful to rapidly coat apatite on metallic materials.

Abstract: Silicone rubber substrates were irradiated at an acceleration voltage of 7 kV and a dose of 1×1015 ions/cm2 by the simultaneous use of oxygen cluster and monomer ion beams, and then soaked in CaCl2 solution. Apatite-forming ability of the substrates was examined using a metastable calcium phosphate solution that had 1.5 times the ion concentrations of a normal simulated body fluid (1.5SBF). After the irradiation, the silicon oxide clusters (SiOx) were formed at the silicone rubber surface. The hydrophilicity of the substrates was remarkably improved by the irradiation. The irradiated silicone rubber substrates formed apatite in 1.5SBF, whereas unirradiated ones did not form it. These results suggest that the functional groups such as Si–OH and/or COOH groups induced apatite nucleation in 1.5SBF.

Abstract: Polyethylene (PE) substrates were irradiated at a dose of 1×1015 ions·cm−2 by the simultaneous use of oxygen (O2) cluster and monomer ion beams. The acceleration voltage for the ion beams was 7 kV. Unirradiated and irradiated PE substrates were soaked in simulated body fluid with ion concentrations 1.5 times of those of human blood plasma (1.5SBF) for 7 days. The irradiated PE substrate formed apatite on its surface, whereas unirradiated one did not form it. This is attributed to the formation of functional groups effective for apatite nucleation, such as COOH groups, on the substrate surface by the simultaneous use of O2 cluster and monomer ion beams. In addition, the apatite-forming ability of the irradiated substrate was improved by the subsequent CaCl2 treatment. This suggests that Ca2+ ions present on the substrate surface accelerated the apatite deposition. We can conclude that apatite-forming ability can be induced on surface of polyethylene by the simultaneous use of O2 cluster and monomer ion beams.

Abstract: Chemically durable microspheres 20−30 µm in diameter containing a large amount of yttrium are useful for in situ radiotherapy of cancer as they can be activated by neutron bombardment to become β-emitters and can be injected in the vicinity of the cancer to provide a large localized dose of β-radiation. In this study, preparation of hollow Y2O3 microspheres using an enzymatic reaction was attempted, and the structure and chemical durability of the resulting microspheres were investigated. Hollow Y2O3 microspheres 20–30 &m in diameter were successfully prepared by this enzymatic method. The outer surface of the microspheres was smooth and dense, whereas the inner parts had a honeycombed structure. In simulated body fluids at pH 6 and 7, the hollow Y2O3 microspheres showed high chemical durability.