Electrospun PLA/nano-hydroxyapatite fiber coatings for improved corrosion protection of titanium implants

The development of bioactive coatings for titanium implants is a promising strategy to increase their integration with surrounding bone tissue and improve long-term clinical outcomes. This study focuses on the development and characterization of nanofibrous coatings, consisting of a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) filler, that are deposited on titanium substrates using the electrospinning technique. These coatings are engineered to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM), thereby enhancing cell adhesion and facilitating osseointegration, which are essential for the long-term stability and functionality of titanium implants in biomedical applications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to evaluate the morphology of the PLA/nHAp nanofibers, whereas by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) the thermal properties of the composite fibers are studied to assess their stability under physiological conditions. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) determines the Ca/P ratio and confirms the homogeneous distribution of nHAp within the coating. In addition, potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are used to investigate the protective properties of the PLA/nHAp coatings in reducing susceptibility to corrosion of the titanium substrate. These results suggest that electrospun PLA/nHAp coatings have significant potential for improving the biocompatibility of titanium implants and could find useful applications in the orthopedic and dentistry fields.