L. Luan

Osteoblast proliferation on hydroxyapatite thin coatings produced by right angle magnetron sputtering

Right angle magnetron sputtering (RAMS) was used to produce hydroxyapatite (HA) film coatings on pure titanium substrates and oriented silicon wafer (Si(0 0 1)) substrates with flat surfaces as well as engineered surfaces having different forms. Analyses using synchrotron XRD, AFM, XPS, FTIR and SEM with EDS showed that as-sputtered thin coatings consist of highly crystalline hydroxyapatite. The HA coatings induced calcium phosphate precipitation when immersed in simulated body fluid, suggesting in vivo bioactive behavior. In vitro experiments, using murine osteoblasts, showed that cells rapidly adhere, spread and proliferate over the thin coating surface, while simultaneously generating strong in-plane stresses, as observed on SEM images. Human osteoblasts were seeded at a density of 2500 cells cm(-2) on silicon and titanium HA coated substrates by RAMS. Uncoated glass was used as a reference substrate for further counting of cells. The highest proliferation of human osteoblasts was achieved on HA RAMS-coated titanium substrates. These experiments demonstrate that RAMS is a promising coating technique for biomedical applications.

Osteoblast proliferation on hydroxyapatite coated substrates prepared by right angle magnetron sputtering

The preparation of hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings via a versatile right-angle magnetron sputtering (RAMS) approach for use as a biomaterial has recently been reported. RAMS coatings show some advantages over conventionally sputtered films in that room temperature deposition yields nanocrystalline and nearly stoichiometric HA coatings under appropriate conditions, thereby avoiding the troublesome post deposition annealing treatment. In this article, we present an exploratory study of the biocompatibility of RAMS HA coatings deposited on metallic substrates. RAMS HA coatings with a thickness around 500nm were prepared on various substrates. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the as-deposited HA coatings were polycrystalline with some strongly preferred orientations. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results showed that the coatings were rather smooth with surface roughness on the order of 10 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that the surface chemistry was nearly stoichiometric. To study the biocompatibility of these coatings, murine pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded onto various substrates. Cell density counts using fluorescence microscopy showed that the best osteoblast proliferation is achieved on an HA RAMS-coated titanium substrate. Additionally, in preliminary studies the influence of Zn, Mg, and Al incorporation in the HA crystal lattice on the in vitro behavior was also evaluated. These experiments demonstrate that RAMS is a promising coating technique for biomedical applications.

Near-field and far-field electric dipole radiation in the vicinity of a planar dielectric half space

We have used the full Sommerfeld integral formalism as well as an asymptotic formalism to study the near- and far-field radiation patterns of an electric dipole in the vicinity of a planar dielectric half space. We present systematic results for the polarization dependence of the radiation patterns in both half spaces and the ratio of the integrated power radiated into the two half spaces as a function of the relative refractive index as well as the dipole position. We find that the radiation patterns are highly structured and directed. Furthermore, the ratio of the integrated power increases significantly on increasing the relative refractive index, which can be exploited to enhance the sensitivity of spectroscopic studies of surface-bound molecules; however this ratio drops quickly for a dipole more than 0.2 wavelength from the interface.

Highly directional fluorescence emission from dye molecules embedded in a dielectric layer adjacent to a silver film

We report measurements on the angular radiation patterns from dye molecules embedded in a polymethyl methacrylate thin film spin-coated on a thin silver film. We systematically studied the influence of the thickness of the silver films and the thickness of the dielectric layers on the radiation pattern. We present the detailed radiation patterns over a large angular range showing highly polarized fluorescence emission coupled into the surface plasmon modes or waveguide modes. We also studied the influence of the polarization of the excitation beam on the radiation patterns. The experimental data are compared with numerical simulations using an asymptotic approach based on the Lorentz reciprocity theorem.

Dynamic control of defects in a two-dimensional optically assisted assembly

In this paper we demonstrate controlled loading of a closely packed array of optical traps. We also describe the technical advantages of our method of filling the trap array (which makes use of an independent, steerable trap created by a separate objective lens), as well of our specific implementation of array generation by multi-beam interference. Microscopic polystyrene spheres are trapped and subsequently assembled into sites on a two-dimensional optical lattice, which is formed from the interference of two pairs of coherent laser beams via an optical setup that allows for simple, continuous variation of lattice parameters over a very wide range. Individual particles in the initial assembly are dynamically manipulated with the independent laser beam, which offers the freedom to generate either defect-free lattices or a lattice with designer defects. As examples we demonstrate the assembly of a defect-free square lattice and a lattice with a single vacancy.

Force measurement on microspheres in an optical standing wave

We have measured the optical forces on isolated particles trapped in an optical lattice generated by the interference of two coherent laser beams. Two independent methods are employed here that are based on the equipartition theorem and hydrodynamic drag. The optical force on a particle in an optical lattice depends strongly on the ratio of the particle diameter to the period of the lattice. Based on the observed size dependence, we developed an approach that allows tunable, size-dependent force selection of a subset of particles from an ensemble containing mixed particles.

Angular radiation pattern of electric dipoles embedded in a thin film in the vicinity of a dielectric half space

We report measurements on the angular radiation pattern from an array of dye molecules embedded in a polymethylmethacrylate film deposited on a dielectric hemispherical lens. The radiation pattern is both highly structured and directed, with most of the power being radiated into the media having the higher refractive index. We also present a simulation of the far-field radiation pattern of a dipole embedded in a thin dielectric layer, which apparently has not been investigated before. The simulation matches the experimental results rather well.

Enhanced particle transport in an oscillating sinusoidal optical potential

We have studied the delivery of a colloidal particle in the presence of an oscillating, spatially periodic, optical potential. The average particle velocity relative to the fluid velocity in this potential depends greatly on the oscillation amplitude and frequency. The results of both our simulations and experiments show that for some combinations of these parameters, the average particle transportation velocity can be enhanced due to the synchronization of the particles movement with the oscillating potential.

Force measurement and optical assisted particle separation in an optical standing wave

We have measured the optical force on isolated particles trapped in an optical lattice generated by the interference of two coherent laser beams by a method based on the equipartition theorem and by an independent method based on hydrodynamic-drag. The experimental results show that the optical force on a particle in this type of optical lattice depends strongly on the ratio of the particle diameter to the period of the lattice. By tuning this ratio, the force due to the optical lattice can be made to vanish. We also formed optical lattices involving two independent standing waves with different spatial periods formed by tightly focusing four laser beams which are pair wise coherent. By shifting the relative phases of the interfering beams we can advance the two waves in opposite directions. Depending on the spacing and the translation speed of the two interference patterns, appropriately sized particles can be translated in opposite directions; using this approach we succeeded in separating two different sizes of particles in the presence of a simulated fluid flow.

Characterization of Crystalline Hydroxyapatite Thin Coatings for Biomedical Applications

Crystalline hydroxyapatite thin coatings have been prepared using a novel opposing RF magnetron sputtering approach at room temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that all the principal peaks are attributable to HA, and the as-deposited HA coatings are made up of crystallites in the size range of 50-100nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies reveal the existence of phosphate, carbonate and hydroxyl groups, suggesting that HA coatings are carbonated. Finally, in vitro cell culture experiments have demonstrated that murine osteoblast cells attach and grow well on the as-sputtered coatings. These results encourage further studies of hydroxyapatite thin coatings prepared by the opposing RF magnetron sputtering approach as a promising candidate for next-generation bioimplant materials.