In alternative embodiments, provided are products of manufacture such as medical or dental devices, e.g., bone implants, having zinc phosphate (ZnP) coatings prepared on zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) based biodegradable metals and other non-biodegradable substrates, e.g., stainless steel, titanium and its alloys, cobalt-chrome alloys, nickel titanium alloys, to improve surface biocompatibility and provide antibacterial properties, and to enhance vascularization, and methods of making and using them. In alternative embodiments, also provided are methods to form ZnP coatings, including ZnP coatings with a porous surface, on metal surfaces such as zinc surfaces, and Zn-, Mg-, and Fe-based biodegradable metals, and other non-biodegradable substrates.
