The Eu3+ and Sr2+ ions co-doped hydroxyapatite nanopowders (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) were synthesized via a precipitation method and post heat-treated at 500 °C. The concentration of Eu3+ ions was established in the range of 0.5-5 mol% to investigate the site occupancy preference. The concentration of Sr2+ ions was set at 5 mol%. The structural and morphological properties of the obtained materials were studied by an X-ray powder diffraction, a transmission electron microscopy techniques and infrared spectroscopy. As synthesized nanoparticles were in the range of 11-17 nm and annealed particles were in the range of 20-26 nm. The luminescence properties in dependence of the dopant concentration and applied temperature were investigated. The 5D0 → 7F0 transition shown the abnormally strong intensity for annealed materials connected with the increase of covalency character of Eu3+-O2- bond, which arise as an effect of charge compensation mechanism. The Eu3+ ions occupied three possible crystallographic sites in these materials revealed in emission spectra: one Ca(1) site with C3 symmetry and two Ca(2) sites with Cs symmetry arranged as cis and trans symmetry. The antibacterial properties of Eu3+ and Sr2+ ions doped and co-doped hydroxyapatite nanopowders were also determined against Gram-negative pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Obtained results suggest that both europium and strontium ions may implement antibacterial properties for hydroxyapatites. In the most cases, better antibacterial effect we noticed for dopants at 5 mol% ratio. However, the effect is strongly species- and strain-dependent feature.

The hydroxyapatite nanopowders of the Eu³⁺-doped, Cu²⁺-doped, and Eu³⁺/Cu²⁺-co-doped Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ were prepared by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The structural and morphological properties of the products were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy techniques (TEM), and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The average crystal size and the unit cell parameters were calculated by a Rietveld refinement tool. The absorption, emission excitation, emission, and luminescence decay time were recorded and studied in detail. The ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition is the most intense transition. The Eu³⁺ ions occupied two independent crystallographic sites in these materials exhibited in emission spectra: one Ca(1) site with C₃ symmetry and one Ca(2) sites with C_s symmetry. The Eu³⁺ emission is strongly quenched by Cu²⁺ ions, and the luminescence decay time is much shorter in the case of Eu³⁺/Cu²⁺ co-doped materials than in Eu³⁺-doped materials. The luminescence quenching mechanism as well as the schematic energy level diagram showing the Eu³⁺ emission quenching mechanism using Cu²⁺ ions are proposed. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique revealed the existence of at least two different coordination environments for copper(II) ion.

Nanocrystalline silicate-substituted hydroxyapatites Ca _10−x Eu _x (PO ₄ ) ₄ (SiO ₄ ) ₂ (OH) ₂ (where x = 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 mol%) doped with Eu ³⁺ ions were synthesized using a microwave assisted hydrothermal method and heat-treated in the temperature range from 700 to 1000 °C.

In response to the need for new materials for theranostics application, the structural and spectroscopic properties of composites designed for medical applications, received in the melt mixing process, were evaluated. A composite based on medical grade poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) doped with Eu³⁺ ions was obtained by using a twin screw extruder. Pure calcium Hap, as well as the one doped with Eu³⁺ ions, was prepared using the precipitation method and then used as a filler. XRPD (X-ray Powder Diffraction) and IR (Infrared) spectroscopy were applied to investigate the structural properties of the obtained materials. DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) was used to assess the Eu³⁺ ion content on phase transitions in PLLA. The tensile properties were also investigated. The excitation, emission spectra as well as decay time were measured to determine the spectroscopic properties. The simplified Judd–Ofelt (J-O) theory was applied and a detailed analysis in connection with the observed structural and spectroscopic measurements was made and described.