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Implant-associated infections remain a significant challenge in orthopaedic and dental
implants because they frequently result in implant failure, higher patient morbidity and
significant healthcare costs. One of the primary pathogens responsible for these IAIs is
Staphylococcus aureus, known for its potential to make biofilms on the surfaces of
implants. Hard tissue implants play a crucial role in modern medicine, facilitating the
restoration of damaged or lost tissues and improving the quality of life for millions of
patients worldwide. In this research, we propose a novel approach to enhance the
antibacterial properties of hard tissue implants by fortifying their surfaces with calciumdoped zinc oxide (Ca-ZnO) nanoparticles through biomimetic calcium phosphate coating.
Hydroxyapatites [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, Hap] are the main constituents of bones and
tissues. Calcium phosphate has been playing a role in human hard tissue bio-engineering
because of its high biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study aimed to develop
Ca2+-dopedZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and investigate their antibacterial properties against
microorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus. Ca/ZnO NPs are synthesized by the coprecipitation method and subsequently characterized by scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy (FT-IR).Significant enhancement in the antibacterial properties was
observed in alkaline and heat treated disc coated with Ca-doped ZnO NPs for 14 days
compared to 7 days and discs coated with bare ZnO NPs (Staphylococcus aureus,
p=<0.0001).These findings suggest that calcium phosphate-based biomimetic coatings,
doped with calcium-doped ZnO NPs show great potential for reducing the risk for
implant-associated infections.