INVESTIGATION OF THE BIOMEDICAL PROPERTIES OF SrTiO3:Er3+/ Yb3+ THIN FILMS ON TITANIUM FOR BIOMEDICAL IMPLANT APPLICATIONS

Abstract

In this study, SrTiO₃:Er³⁺/Yb³⁺  thin films on titanium were fabricated by the hydrothermal method at 200°C for biomedical implant applications. Rare earth ions Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ were codoped into the SrTiO₃ host matrix by fixing the Er³⁺ concentration and varying the Yb³⁺ concentration. The structure and properties of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The perovskite-structured material coating was annealed at 800°C. The material forms flake-like structures with a fairly uniform size, with a flake thickness of about 2-5 nm and a flake size of about 3-6 μm. Surface properties were investigated by contact angle measurement. The SrTiO₃:Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ material exhibited significantly higher wettability compared to Ti. A confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) confirmed good adhesion of kidney cells to the test samples after 48 hours of culture. The results indicate that the SrTiO₃:Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ thin films possess promising biomedical properties, making them suitable for biomedical implants.