Biomineralization of large hydroxyapatite particles using ovalbumin as biosurfactant

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is synthesized via a biomineralizing route by using ovalbumin as natural biosurfactant. The product material is characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It shows that large HA spindle-like particles measured at 0.8 mm in length are aggregates from the needle-like nanocrystals. Furthermore, it is proved that there are superfluous positive charges on the surface of HA particles by using the electrophoretic method. It shows that the large particles are self-assembled from large amounts of HA nanocrystals with ovalbumin as biosurfactant. The interactions between ovalbumin and HA crystals have great effects on the formation of large HA particles and the positive charges on the surface of the particles. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.