Structural, mechanical and antibacterial properties of Mg₂Sio₄-clay based nanoparticles for biomedical application

Clay based Forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄-clay based) was synthesized using Halloysite nanotube clay via sol-gel method. The resultant materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size analysis (PSA), and hardness analysis. The formation of Mg₂SiO₄-clay based nanoparticles was confirmed using X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared analysis. Mg₂SiO₄-clay based nanoparticles were treated at different high temperatures which are from 850 °C to 1050 °C. It was revealed that crystalline Mg₂SiO₄-clay based was formed at the lowest temperature (850 °C) and the different temperatures do not significantly affect the FTIR peaks. Moreover, the hardness and fracture toughness of Mg₂SiO₄-clay based was found to be higher than synth-Mg₂SiO_4, which are 1.03 ± 0.07 GPa and 5.7 ± 0.21 MPa m^1/2, respectively. It was also found that the fracture toughness of Mg₂SiO₄-clay based was higher than a few types of cortical bones and synthetic Hydroxyapatite. Other than that, Mg₂SiO₄-clay based displayed remarkable antibacterial properties which is critical criteria for implant materials. These findings suggest that the Mg₂SiO₄-clay based possesses good structural, mechanical, and antibacterial properties and might be suitable for potential bioimplant materials.