Hydroxyapatite has become an important coating material for bioimplants, following the introduction of synthetic HAp in the 1950s. The HAp coatings require controlled surface roughness/porosity, adequate corrosion resistance and need to show favorable tribological behavior. The deposition rate must be sufficiently fast and the coating technique needs to be applied at different scales on substrates having a diverse structure, composition, size, and shape. A detailed overview of dry and wet coating methods is given. The benefits of electrodeposition include controlled thickness and morphology, ability to coat a wide range of component size/shape and ease of industrial processing. Pulsed current and potential techniques have provided denser and more uniform coatings on different metallic materials/implants. The mechanism of HAp electrodeposition is considered and the effect of operational variables on deposit properties is highlighted. The most recent progress in the field is critically reviewed. Developments in mineral substituted and included particle, composite HAp coatings, including those reinforced by metallic, ceramic and polymeric particles; carbon nanotubes, modified graphenes, chitosan, and heparin, are considered in detail. Technical challenges which deserve further research are identified and a forward look in the field of the electrodeposited HAp coatings is taken.

Typically, pure niobium oxide coatings are deposited on metallic substrates, such as commercially pure Ti, Ti6Al4 V alloys, stainless steels, niobium, TiNb alloy, and Mg alloys using techniques such as sputter deposition, sol–gel deposition, anodizing, and wet plasma electrolytic oxidation. The relative advantages and limitations of these coating techniques are considered, with particular emphasis on biomedical applications. The properties of a wide range of pure and modified niobium oxide coatings are illustrated, including their thickness, morphology, microstructure, elemental composition, phase composition, surface roughness and hardness. The corrosion resistance, tribological characteristics and cell viability/proliferation of the coatings are illustrated using data from electrochemical, wear resistance and biological cell culture measurements. Critical R&D needs for the development of improved future niobium oxide coatings, in the laboratory and in practice, are highlighted.