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Abstract
In this paper, silver microparticles were proposed as an additive (wetting agent) in the sintering of bovine bone-derived hydroxyapatite, and their well-known antibacterial properties were evaluated for the newly-developed materials. Hydroxyapatite was prepared by thermal processing of bovine bones, followed by milling and sorting. After silver addition, the samples were tested as precursors, green compacts and adhered particles-sintered compacts, using complementary morphological, compositional and structural evaluation techniques (scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction). The antibacterial effect was assessed on bacterial strains popular for their association with post-implantation infections. The study was designed to evaluate the precursors, investigate the surface, morphology and/or structure changes during forming and adhesion by sintering, and explore the relationship between the silver concentration and the antibacterial effect of the material. The results confirmed the benefits of adding silver as a wetting agent in sintering bovine bone-derived hydroxyapatite as well as its antibacterial effect (with best results at 2 wt%Ag). In spite of the great potential as a wetting agent and antibacterial factor in hydroxyapatite, the proper evaluation of these results requires extensive testing for elevating the control level in designing the material properties, and for establishing optimal concentrations of silver in order to achieve proper antibacterial and biocompatible behaviours.