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Herein, ZrO2 and Si + ZrO2 composite coatings on AZ91D alloys are deposited at a constant voltage of 8 kV and 1 Å/s deposition rate using the electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) method. Further, the samples are examined for surface morphology, phase analysis, adhesion, corrosion, and antibacterial properties, as per ASTM standards. The adhesion strength of the composite (Si + ZrO2) coating nominally dropped (9%) compared to the ZrO2 coating even when the coating thickness increased by 18%. However, the composite (Si + ZrO2) coating improved wettability because silanol promotes hydrogen bonding with water molecules, which elevates the surface energy of the silica and increases its hydrophilic nature. Further, increased wettability and surface roughness have the potential to improve cell adhesion and proliferation. The corrosion potential (Ecorr) values of the coated samples exhibited a positive shift in the potentiodynamic polarization curve, indicating a substantial increase in their corrosion resistance in the artificial blood plasma (ABP) electrolyte. Similarly, SEM images of both coated corroded samples are less affected in the ABP solution, indicating that the coating mitigated heavy cracks and micropores, protecting them from corrosion. The Si + ZrO2 coatings exhibited exceptional performance in preventing bacterial infiltration by Staphylococcus aureus, thus inhibiting the subsequent formation of biofilms. In addition, these coatings demonstrate improved vitality among fibroblast cells, enabling better cellular spreading and proliferation.

Human bone is composed of organic and inorganic composite materials, contributing to its unique strength and flexibility. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) has been extensively studied for bone regeneration, due to its excellent bioactivity and osteoconductivity, which makes it a highly valuable biomaterial for tissue engineering applications. For better therapeutic effects, composite nanofibers containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP) were developed using an electrospinning technique in this study. Herein, hydroxyapatite (a major inorganic constituent of native bone) concentrations varying from 5 to 25% were reinforced in the composite, which could alter the properties of nanofibers. The as-prepared composite nanofibers were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, and FT-IR spectroscopy, and a bioactivity assessment was performed in simulated body fluid (SBF). The ICP-OES analysis was used to determine the concentration of Ca2+ and PO42– ions before and after SBF immersion. To optimize the material selection, the nanofibrous scaffolds were subjected to cell proliferation and differentiation in MG-63 osteoblast cell lines, but no significant toxicity was observed. In conclusion, HAP-PVA-PVP scaffolds exhibit unique physical and chemical properties and ideal biocompatibility, with great promise to serve as effective candidates for bone tissue applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]