• The Journal of Engineering Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.189-197
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• 1998

Hyeroxyapatite(HAp) which has good biocompatibility was made by Wet Chemical Process. The surface of Ti-6Al-4V, coated with HAp by lon Beam Assisted Deposition (IBAD), was treated with 5ppm, 10ppm, 20ppm, and 100ppm of $AgNO_3$ solution. In this Ag impregnation process, $Ca^{2+}$ of HAp was substituted with $Ag^+$ of $AgNO_3$. In this study, the antimicrobial effect and biocompatibility of Ti-6Al-4V alloy which was coated with Ag-HAp were examined. The antimicrobial test was carried out with two kinds of bacteria(P. Aeruginosa, S. Epidermidis), which are highly infectious in a transplanting operation of implant materials. As a result of the test, it was observed that Ti-6Al-4V alloy which was treated by 20ppm of $AgNO_3$ solution has good biocompatibility. In order to observe the antimicrobial mechanism of $Ag^+$, E. coli which is the most common bacterium was treated by Ag-HAp. Then cell morphology of E. coli was observed by the transmission electron microscope(TEM). The destruction of cell wall and cytoplasm of E. coil were observed. A black spot appeared in the cytoplasm was analyzed by energy dispersive analysis X-ray (EDAX) and it showed a small amount of $Ag^+$. Thus, it was proved that $Ag^+$ destroys bacteria effectively and Ti-6Al-4V alloy which was impregnate with Ag ion show antimicrobial effect on infection bacteria.