Effects of ultraviolet irradiation on the in vitro apatite-forming ability of crystalline titania layer

Abstract

Crystalline titania (rutile) layers were prepared by thermal treatment of titanium substrates at various temperatures ranging from 100 to 800C. Ultraviolet (UV) light was irradiated on the crystalline titiania (rutile) layer under ambient conditions for 1 h. The UV-irradiated titanium substrates were soaked in a simulated body fluid (SBF, Kokubo solution) until 7 days in order to evaluate their in vitro apatite-forming ability. The UV-irradiated crystalline titania (rutile) layer induced bonelike apatite formation on their surface within 3 days. This suggested that ultraviolet irradiation enhanced the in vitro apatite-forming ability of the crystalline titania (rutile) layer except that they were highly crystalline, prepared due to heating at 800C.