Nanoceramics: Synthesis, Characterizations and Applications
137
by wet chemical precipitation method from Mg(OH) 2 /Ca(OH) 2 and H 3 PO 4 . It was
observed that the specific surface area of the Hap powder increased with an increase
in concentration of Mg [38].
2.7 Sol-Gel Process
Sol-gel technique is used to produce high quality, homogeneous, and highly stoichiometric nanostructures. For the fabrication of nanoceramic oxides, the respective
alkoxides are converted into a colloidal solution (sol) in the first step, which is then
converted into an integrated network (gel) in the second step. The gel can be used as a
precursor and can be coated on a substrate to form a film or can be subjected to other
treatment methods to form nanosized powders. Nanoceramics can be prepared in
different shapes such as nanospheres, nanorods, nanoflakes, nanotubes, nanoribbons,
nanofibers and nanocoating’s for different applications. Sol-gel prepared nanoceramics have varied applications in the biomaterial field such as fabrication of bioactive implant coatings and scaffolds for orthopaedic applications and drug delivery
systems. Nanocomposite coatings with high homogeneity and purity can also be
prepared by this method. Orthopaedic implant materials such as 316L SS and titanium and its alloys were coated with nanoporous nanoceramic oxides such as titania,
niobia, silica, etc., and their ability to accelerate bone growth was studied. It was
reported that these coatings enhance bioactivity as well as increase the corrosion
resistance of the implant [39, 40].
The composite coating of tantalum oxide—carbon nanotubes was developed on
Ti plates by sol-gel co-deposition method. The carbon nanotubes were loaded with
bisphosphonic acid moieties. The composite coating material supported HAp growth
as revealed by in vitro analysis [41]. Mesoporous silica-titania composites were
obtained by sol-gel method assisted by hydrothermal method and the drug oxytetracycline was loaded onto the mesochannels. The drug release studies reveal that the
drug was released slowly and steadily and the system exhibited good antimicrobial
activity against Staphylococcus aureus [42].
2.8 Template-Based Synthesis
Template-based synthesis is a simple procedure by which metallic particles in the
nano size can be developed with the help of a host which has preexisting ordered
porous structure. The developed nanoparticles will be of reduced dimension and
also will be having the orientational order of the host material [43]. Different shapes
of nanomaterials such as nanorods, nanowires, nanobelts, etc., can be developed
with the help of templates using various methods such as electrophoretic deposition,
filling of templates by capillary force, chemical conversion, etc. [44]. Silica-based
mesoporous materials having a unique silica network of a well-ordered arrangement
137
by wet chemical precipitation method from Mg(OH) 2 /Ca(OH) 2 and H 3 PO 4 . It was
observed that the specific surface area of the Hap powder increased with an increase
in concentration of Mg [38].
2.7 Sol-Gel Process
Sol-gel technique is used to produce high quality, homogeneous, and highly stoichiometric nanostructures. For the fabrication of nanoceramic oxides, the respective
alkoxides are converted into a colloidal solution (sol) in the first step, which is then
converted into an integrated network (gel) in the second step. The gel can be used as a
precursor and can be coated on a substrate to form a film or can be subjected to other
treatment methods to form nanosized powders. Nanoceramics can be prepared in
different shapes such as nanospheres, nanorods, nanoflakes, nanotubes, nanoribbons,
nanofibers and nanocoating’s for different applications. Sol-gel prepared nanoceramics have varied applications in the biomaterial field such as fabrication of bioactive implant coatings and scaffolds for orthopaedic applications and drug delivery
systems. Nanocomposite coatings with high homogeneity and purity can also be
prepared by this method. Orthopaedic implant materials such as 316L SS and titanium and its alloys were coated with nanoporous nanoceramic oxides such as titania,
niobia, silica, etc., and their ability to accelerate bone growth was studied. It was
reported that these coatings enhance bioactivity as well as increase the corrosion
resistance of the implant [39, 40].
The composite coating of tantalum oxide—carbon nanotubes was developed on
Ti plates by sol-gel co-deposition method. The carbon nanotubes were loaded with
bisphosphonic acid moieties. The composite coating material supported HAp growth
as revealed by in vitro analysis [41]. Mesoporous silica-titania composites were
obtained by sol-gel method assisted by hydrothermal method and the drug oxytetracycline was loaded onto the mesochannels. The drug release studies reveal that the
drug was released slowly and steadily and the system exhibited good antimicrobial
activity against Staphylococcus aureus [42].
2.8 Template-Based Synthesis
Template-based synthesis is a simple procedure by which metallic particles in the
nano size can be developed with the help of a host which has preexisting ordered
porous structure. The developed nanoparticles will be of reduced dimension and
also will be having the orientational order of the host material [43]. Different shapes
of nanomaterials such as nanorods, nanowires, nanobelts, etc., can be developed
with the help of templates using various methods such as electrophoretic deposition,
filling of templates by capillary force, chemical conversion, etc. [44]. Silica-based
mesoporous materials having a unique silica network of a well-ordered arrangement