Journal of Spectroscopy

Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 284285, 10 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/284285

Research Article

Study on Europium-Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Their Antimicrobial Properties

Simona-Liliana Iconaru,1,2 Mikael Motelica-Heino,² and Daniela Predoi¹

¹Department of Multifunctional Materials and Structures Laboratory, National Institute of Materials Physics, 105 Bis Atomistilor, P.O. Box MG 07, 077125 Magurele, Romania

²ISTO, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans Cedex 02, France

Received 16 May 2013; Accepted 8 August 2013

Academic Editor: Maciej Sitarz

Copyright © 2013 Simona-Liliana Iconaru et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis was conducted on europium-doped hydroxyapatite, (PO₄)₆(OH)₂ nanocrystalline powders (Eu:HAp) with . Antimicrobial studies were also performed for the first time on Eu:HAp. The antimicrobial properties of Eu:HAp nanoparticles with on Gram-negative (E. coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1397) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus 0364, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212) bacteria systems and a species of fungus (Candida albicans ATCC 10231) were reported. Our study demonstrates that the antimicrobial activity of Eu:HAp nanoparticles is dependent on the europium concentration.

1. Introduction

Hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) is the main inorganic component of human bones and teeth, showing a very good biocompatibility, bioactivity, and osteoconductivity due to its nontoxic, and noninflammatory properties [1–9]. Therefore, it has been widely used in many fields, like biomedical applications, as a bioactive coating material for metallic implants, clinical bone augmentation, dental implantology, tumors treatment, and cell activation, or it could be also used as a carrier in drug delivery systems [10]. Moreover, trivalent rare-earth-ion-doped hydroxyapatite can also be used as a biological fluorescent probes due to its excelent luminescent properties.

In the last years, a special emphasis was put on development and characterization of rare-earth based inorganic luminescent nanoparticles with a great interest for biomedical applications [11–14]. The most important applications could be found on pharmaceutical industry or biological and medical diagnostics [15–17].

The hydroxyapatite doped with rare-earth ions can be used as a fluorescent probes, the intensity of luminescence in this case depends on the concentration of rare-earth ions used as dopant as well as the degree of crystallinity and the crystal structure of the host material [18–20]. Over the past decade, several methods for obtaining luminescent inorganic nanoparticles have been developed, including coprecipitation and sol-gel synthesis which allow adjusting the particles morphology, size, structure, and composition in order to adapt their physical and chemical properties [14, 21–23].

Fluorescent labeling is an indispensable technique which is widely used for performing nondestructive observations both in vivo and in vitro by replacing the calcium ions in hydroxyapatite crystal lattice using rare-earth luminescent ions [24–26]. The hexagonal hydroxyapatite allows the substitutions of many rare-earth ions without any changes in the crystal structure [27–30]. Nowadays, the hydroxyapatite nanoparticles doped with rare earths ions are being studied very intently as cell labeling materials, as a result of their strong luminescence under visible light spectrum [31–36].

Compared to other rare-earth elements, trivalent Europium Eu³⁺ ions have a simple electronic energy level scheme and hypersensitive transitions. The Eu³⁺-doped calcium apatites represent a good biological probe candidate due to their low toxicity and stable luminescence over time, and it has been proven that a small amount of europium in the bioactivity behaviour has no harmful effects [37–41]. The ionic radius similarity between Ca²⁺ and Eu³⁺ in the apatite lattice makes them a good host for Eu³⁺ doping [4].

Recently, great attention has been paid to europium-doped hydroxyapatite (Eu:HAp) potential use as a biological probe [30]. Previously, the europium-doped hydroxyapatite was studied applying PL [32, 33]. On the other hand, IR spectroscopy is a powerful method in ionic investigation and has been used extensively in phosphate minerals research [42–44].

Concerning the phase composition of the as-prepared Eu:HAp various studies have been reported [31–33, 45]. In our recent studies no other additional phases were observed [45] for the synthesized Eu:HAp samples, and the diffraction patterns were identical to that obtained for stoichiometric apatite. In this paper, the obtained Eu:HAp samples were systematically characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The aim of this work is to contribute to the study of the influence of europium in the structure of hydroxyapatite. On the other hand, cell viability from various doses of the Eu:HAp samples at two different time points was compared with corresponding culture media values. After 24 h and 48 h exposures to all types of Eu:HAp at 10 μg/mL concentration, the morphology of the cells was preserved. Moreover, we report in this work for the first time the bacterial studies on Eu:HAp. Furthermore, in this paper, original studies on antimicrobial activities of Eu:HAp against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus 0364, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212), Gram-negative (E. coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1397), and fungal strains (Candida albicans ATCC 10231) are presented.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Samples

All the reagents for synthesis, including ammonium dihydrogen phosphate [(NH₄)₂HPO₄], calcium nitrate [Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O], and europium nitrate [Eu(NO₃)₃·6H₂O] (Alpha Aesar), were used as purchased, without purification. Europium-doped hydroxyapatite (Eu:HAp, ) nanoparticles were performed by setting , , , , and [Ca + Eu]/P as 1.67 in accord with [45].

2.2. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy

The functional groups present in the prepared nanoparticles and thin films were identified by FTIR using a Perkin Elmer, Spectrum BX spectrometer. In order to obtain the nanoparticles spectra, 1% of the nanopowder was mixed and ground with 99% KBr. Tablets of 10 mm diameter were prepared by pressing the powder mixture with a pressure of not more than 10 psi. The spectrum was recorded in the range of 400 to 4000 cm⁻¹ with 4 cm⁻¹ resolution. The first FTIR spectra were obtained after 256 scans at room temperature (.5°C). The second derivative IR spectra were acquired after 5-point smoothing of the original IR spectra. For selected spectral ranges, the peak fitting analyses were performed using procedures of Kolmas et al. [46]: (i) baseline correction, (ii) second derivative calculation and self-deconvolution assessment in order to determine the number and positions of the bands, and (iii) curve fittings with fixed peak positions using Lorentzienne lines. In the previous studies Matsuhiro and Rivas [47] and Gómez-Ordóñez and Rupérez [48] showed that second derivatives of FTIR spectra are generally used as an aid for wavenumber determination of weak absorption bands to improve resolution of overlapped bands in the original spectra. To that end, in our studies derivation including Savitzky-Golay algorithm with nine smoothing points was performed.

2.3. Antimicrobial Studies

The microbial strains identification was confirmed by the aid of VITEK II automatic system. VITEK cards for identification and susceptibility testing were inoculated and incubated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Microbial suspensions of  CFU/mL corresponding to 0.5 McFarland density obtained from 15–18 h bacterial cultures developed on solid media were used in our experiments. The tested substances were solubilised in DMSO, and the starting stock solution was of 5000 μg/mL concentration. The qualitative screening was performed by an adapted disk diffusion method [49–53].

3. Results and Discussions

3.1. IR Absorbance Spectra

The FTIR spectra of Eu:HAp were recorded in the typical absorption mode from KBr pellets. IR absorbance spectra of Eu:HAp samples with various europium concentrations () are shown in the 4000 cm⁻¹ to 400 cm⁻¹ range in Figure 1. In our previous studies [45], we have shown that, for all the samples, the presence of strong [OH] ⁻ vibration peak (632 cm⁻¹) could be noticed. The broad bands in the regions 1600–1700 cm⁻¹ and 3200–3600 cm⁻¹ correspond to H–O–H bands of lattice water. Fowler in his infrared studies on apatites [54] showed that the band at 3570 cm⁻¹ is characterized by [OH]⁻ stretching mode and the band at 632 cm⁻¹ is characterized by [OH]⁻ arising from stretching librational mode. The bands at around 1090 cm⁻¹ and about 1040 cm⁻¹ can be attributed to the [PO₄]³⁻ while the band at 962 arises from [PO₄]³⁻. The 602 cm⁻¹ and 564 cm⁻¹ bands appear from [PO₄]³⁻. Markovik et al. [55] presented that the sharpness of bands, especially sharpness of the 632 cm⁻¹, 602 cm⁻¹, and 564 cm⁻¹ bands, indicates a well-crystallized HAp. The band at 475 cm⁻¹ can be attributed to the [PO₄]³⁻ [56]. In the FT-IR spectrum of Eu:HAp with (Figure 1), the bands corresponding to the vibration of C–O were observed at 1410 cm⁻¹, characteristic of the carbonate group [57, 58].

Figure 1: FT-IR spectra of europium-doped hydroxyapatite (Eu:HAp) with , , and .

The intensity of the band located at 1410 cm⁻¹ in the spectrum of Eu:HAp samples with ≥ 0.1 is attributed to components of the mode of a trace amount of [CO₃]²⁻. The vibrations between 850 and 890 cm⁻¹, characteristic of the carbonate group, were not detected because [CO₃]²⁻ band at 872 cm⁻¹ is hidden by [HPO₄]²⁻ band at 875 cm⁻¹. Similar comportment was observed by Markovik et al. [55] in their studies on preparation and comprehensive characterization of calcium hydroxyapatite. Holcomb and Young [59] showed that the [CO₃]²⁻ band at 1410 cm⁻¹ derives from [CO₃]²⁻ (designated by “B-type” carbonate that replaces ions in the hydroxyapatite lattice). The band at 1510 cm⁻¹ was also detected in the FT-IR spectrum of Eu:HAp with . The band at 1510 cm⁻¹ derives from [CO₃]²⁻ (designated by “A-type” carbonate) that replaces OH⁻ ions in the hydroxyapatite lattice [55, 60]. In all the spectra of Eu:HAp samples, the band at 875 cm⁻¹ was detected. This band is supposed to arise due to [HPO₄]²⁻ ions from several reasons [55].

In Figure 1, we observed that the contribution of the area that corresponds to the phosphate bands decreases when the europium concentration in the samples increases. The bands at 475 and 962 cm⁻¹ progressively disappear with the increase of europium concentration. When , the bands at 475 and 962 cm⁻¹ are almost absent. We can also observe in the Eu:HAp spectra a broadening of peak vibration with the decrease of the europium concentration. This behaviour was observed by Owada et al. [61] in sintered Y-doped hydroxyapatite.

3.2. IR Second Derivative Spectra

In order to complete structural information on the analyzed Eu:HAp samples with , we agreed to perform derivative analysis and peak fitting of selected , , , and phosphate bands. The second derivative of the spectrum of Eu:HAp samples (, , ) in the , , and [PO₄]³⁻ bands is shown in Figure 2. Only the results obtained for pure HAp () and Eu:HAp (, ) samples are shown, which are clearly assigned to the strong changes that occur in the FT-IR spectra of HAp in the presence of Eu. [PO₄]³⁻ band was observed at around 962 cm⁻¹ in the second derivative spectra. On the other hand, in the second derivative spectra was identified a [PO₄]³⁻ band at 475 cm⁻¹. In concordance with precedent studies, the bands assigned in the second derivative spectra of Eu:HAp () can be attributed to molecular vibrations of the phosphate [PO₄]³⁻ in an apatitic stoichiometric environment of hydroxyapatite [62].

Figure 2: Second derivative of Eu:HAp (, , and ) spectrum of the , , , and domains.

To evaluate the subtle spectral changes occurring as a consequence of the europium-doped hydroxyapatite, the spectra in the spectral regions of 450–700 cm⁻¹ ( and [PO₄]³⁻ domain) and 900–1200 cm⁻¹ ( and [PO₄]³⁻ domains) were analyzed by means of second derivative (Figure 2) and curve fitting analysis (Figure 3).

Figure 3: FT-IR deconvoluted spectra of the , , , and domain for Eu:HAp (, , and ).

In Figure 2, we also observe the second derivative band at 633 cm⁻¹ that derives from the OH⁻ librational mode. IR wavenumber position (cm⁻¹) of the , , , and [PO₄]³⁻ bands of Eu:HAp spectrum from second derivative is presented in Table 1. Ten bands were detected for phosphate bands of hexagonal Eu:HAp samples.

Table 1: IR wavenumber position (cm⁻¹) of , , , and   bands of Eu:HAp spectrum from second derivative.

Assignments
Position (cm⁻¹)
References

962
[62]

475
[62]

1033; 1045; 1073; 1090
[62]

569; 575; 588; 602
[62]

Present in newly precipitated apatite
1111
[62, 74]

-containing apatites
1144
[74]

group (librational mode)
633
[74, 75]

Figure 3 shows the FT-IR spectrum of hydroxyapatite (), the phosphate , , , and regions with experimental and calculated contours overlaid along with the individual subbands (blue) as determined by a curve fitting analysis. Five components were needed for a satisfactory fit in the spectral region of 450–700 cm⁻¹ ( and [PO₄]³⁻ domain) and eight in the spectral region of 900–1200 cm⁻¹ ( and [PO₄]³⁻ domains). FT-IR spectrum of Eu:HAp with is also presented, and five components were needed for a satisfactory fit in the spectral region of 450–700 cm⁻¹ ( and [PO₄]³⁻ domain) and six in the spectral region of 900–1200 cm⁻¹ ( and [PO₄]³⁻ domains). For Eu:HAp samples with , four components were needed for a satisfactory fit in the spectral region of 450–700 cm⁻¹ ( and [PO₄]³⁻ domain) and five important components in the spectral region of 900–1200 cm⁻¹ ( and [PO₄]³⁻ domains).

The individual component for phosphate region (featured near 475 cm⁻¹) decreases for the samples with and disappears when increases to 0.2. The high frequency shoulder is more clearly defined for pure Hap than in the case of the Eu:HAp with and in the and phosphate regions. The band requires at least eight components for an adequate fit to the spectrum, compared with only six in the case of Eu:HAp with or only five in the Eu:HAp with . In this series of materials, it was not realistic to attempt to identify particular components characteristic the particle size. However, a correlation was found between the percentage area of the band (near 960 cm⁻¹) and the crystal size. The individual component for the phosphate region (band near 960 cm⁻¹) disappears when increases to 0.2. On the other hand, the individual component for phosphate region (band near 1040 cm⁻¹) decreases for the samples with . However, in Figures 2 and 3, we observe the disappearance of the band at 1144 cm⁻¹, which is associated with [HPO₄]²⁻ ions [63].We note that the main molecular species that gave rise to the Eu:HAp (, , ) absorbance in the 900–1200 cm⁻¹ region was assigned to the phosphate ion, [PO₄]³⁻.

3.3. Antimicrobial Studies

A study on enhancement of osteoblast proliferation on europium-doped hydroxyapatite has rarely been reported. Anselme [64] in his study concerning osteoblast adhesion on biomaterials and García and Reyes [65] in the study of bioadhesive surfaces to promote osteoblast differentiation and bone formation showed that often synthetic materials do not support osteoblast adhesion and this may result in poor cell differentiation and limited bone formation. Keselowsky et al. [66] in the study on surface chemistry and McFarland et al. [67]. in their study on protein adsorption and cell attachment to patterned surfaces demonstrated that the effect of surface properties on cellular response depends on differences in species, concentration, and biological activity of adsorbed proteins, which may be obtained from different sources, that is, biological fluids and cell-mediated synthesis and deposition.

The antimicrobial activity of Eu:HAp () nanoparticles was tested using the most common bacterial pathogens and fungus: E. coli ATCC 25922 (Gram-negative), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1397 (Gram-negative), Staphylococcus aureus 0364 (Gram-positive), Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 (Gram-positive), and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (fungus).

The antimicrobial studies on Eu:HAp () nanoparticles indicated that antimicrobial activity is present. The results of antimicrobial activity of Eu:HAp () nanoparticles are shown in Figures 4–6. For the as-prepared Eu:HAp samples, an antibacterial activity was not observed on E. coli ATCC 25922 (Figures 4–6). The Eu:HAp nanoparticles with showed a good antibacterial activity on Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 (Figure 6) for all the concentrations studied (from 0.031 mg/mL to 1 mg/mL). For the samples of Eu:HAp with and (Figures 5 and 6), we have observed that the inhibition of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 was more evident. In the samples with , the inhibition was observed for concentrations higher than 0.062 mg/mL. For the as-prepared Eu:HAp samples with , the inhibition was observed for all concentrations. For Candida albicans ATCC 10231, a good inhibition was observed for samples with (Figure 6).

Figure 4: Antimicrobial activity of as-prepared Eu:HAp samples () on E. coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1397, Staphylococcus aureus 0364, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231.

Figure 5: Antimicrobial activity of as-prepared Eu:HAp samples () on E. coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1397, Staphylococcus aureus 0364, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231.

Figure 6: Antimicrobial activity of as-prepared Eu:HAp samples () on E. coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1397, Staphylococcus aureus 0364, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231.

For samples with and , the inhibition was observed at high concentrations (Figures 4–6). Additionally, a very good inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1397 has been noticed when the concentration of Eu:HAp () increased from 0.125 mg/mL to 1 mg/mL. Raimondi et al. [68] and Morones et al. [69], studying the inhibition of bacterial growth by differentially shaped nanoparticles, showed that the antimicrobial efficacy of the nanoparticles depends on the shape of the nanoparticles.

One of the aims of this study was to obtain an Eu:HAp stoichiometric apatite and to contribute to the study of the influence of europium in the structure of hydroxyapatite. We note that it is possible to determine the type of apatite, nonstoichiometric or stoichiometric, using Fourier deconvolution techniques. This study allowed highlighting the stoichiometry of Eu:HAp biomaterials, based on changes in the phosphate and absorbances in the 900–1200 cm⁻¹ spectral region. Sauer and Wuthier [70] in their studies claimed that the presence of the [PO₄]³⁻ doublet at 602 and 567 cm⁻¹ in all the composites suggests that the precursor phase of the HAp was octacalcium phosphate, OCP, (Ca₈H₂[PO₄]₆). On the other hand, they showed that the OCP precursor ensures a more crystalline and ordered HAp phase. Granja et al. [71] in their previous studies have affirmed that if the precursor had been amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) (Ca₂[PO₄]₃), these [PO₄]³⁻ bands should be a broad singlet instead of a doublet. Moreover, Hutchens et al. in 2006 [72] evidenced that ACP precipitation requires the rapid interaction between Ca²⁺ and [PO₄]³⁻ at high supersaturation instead of precursor complexation with other species. A previous study of apatite minerals realized by Rey et al. in 1991 [73], using Fourier deconvolution analysis, has attributed a 1020 cm⁻¹ band to nonstoichiometric apatite containing [HPO₄]²⁻ and [CO₃]²⁻ and the band at 1125 cm⁻¹ in FT-IR deconvoluted spectra to stoichiometric apatite. Due to the presence of the band at around 1127 cm⁻¹ in all the prepared samples, our present studies have shown that the Eu:HAp is a stoichiometric apatite.

Moreover, our present study demonstrates that the antibacterial activity of Eu:HAp nanoparticles is dependent on the europium concentration. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect was found to be dependent on the increase of concentration from 0.031 mg/mL to 1 mg/mL.

4. Conclusions

In the present work, we contributed to the study of the influence of europium in structure of hydroxyapatite. Using Fourier deconvolution techniques, we showed that it is possible to determine the type of Eu:HAp apatite, nonstoichiometric or stoichiometric. The spectra of Eu:HAp samples in the spectral regions of 450–700 cm⁻¹ and 900–1200 cm⁻¹ were analyzed by means of second derivative and using Fourier deconvolution analysis. This study allowed highlighting the stoichiometry of Eu:HAp biomaterials, based on changes in the phosphate and absorbances in the 900–1200 cm⁻¹ spectral region.

The antimicrobial activity of Eu:HAp () nanoparticles was tested using the most common bacterial pathogens and fungus: E. coli ATCC 25922 (Gram-negative), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative), Staphylococcus aureus 0364 (Gram-positive), Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 (Gram-positive), and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (fungus).

In summary, this study on the antimicrobial activity of Eu:HAp () nanoparticles describes a nanotechnology-based strategy where luminescent Eu³⁺-doped hydroxyapatite represents a potential application for drug release and targeting based on their luminescent properties. These results and methods could be interesting for academic and industrial researchers in biomaterials, potential orthopedic medical materials, and drug carriers.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Acknowledgments

The financial and encouragement support provided by the ministry of Education of Romania under the Project IFA-CEA no. C2-06 is acknowledged. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support given to this work by Dr. F. Massuyeau from the Institut des Matériaux-Jean Rouxel, Nantes.

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