Tricalcium phosphate based scaffolds have been of great interest for bone tissue engineering. It has been argued that their biocompatibility and structural resemblance to the mineral phase of the native bone tissue make these scaffolds superior to other biomaterials used for the same application such as polymers. Calcium phosphate ceramics are easy to modify and functionalize and their ease of manipulation allows the development of versatile scaffolds with varying microarchitecture or porosity. Nevertheless, a major limitation in their applications in orthopaedic surgeries remains the potential bacterial colonization.

In this work, a multidisciplinary approach has been used for the development and functionalization of porous tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite scaffolds. The proposed approach involves the synthesis of scaffolds with controlled microporosity followed by their surface structuring by ultra-short laser (λ=800 nm; τ=70 fs; P= 100 mW) and subsequent functionalization with ZnO nanolayer by pulsed laser deposition.

Scanning electron microscopy revealed the developed laser-induced topographical structures resembling parallel microchannels. This morphology led to rearrangement of material at the surface potentially improving the local contact surface area. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that no phase transition occurred at the modified surface, preserving the crystallinity state of the material. Additionally, the influence of the functionalized scaffolds on bacterial behaviour are under current investigation. Preliminary in vitro studies suggested a potential effect of the functionalized scaffolds on early adhesion of S. aureus.

Based on the achieved preliminary results, the experimental methodology proposed in this work reveals its potential for development of novel implants for bone tissue engineering bearing antimicrobial surface interfaces. The advancement of such research strategies could result in a substantial improvement of the current standards for healing of bone injuries.