Importance of FTIR Spectra Deconvolution for the Analysis of Amorphous Calcium Phosphates

This work will consider Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy - diffuse reflectance infrared reflection (FTIR-DRIFT) for collecting the spectra and deconvolution to identify changes in bonding as a means of more powerful detection. Spectra were recorded from amorphous calcium phosphate synthesized by wet precipitation, and from bone. FTIR-DRIFT was used to study the chemical environments of PO4, CO3 and amide. Deconvolution of spectra separated overlapping bands in the nu 4PO4, nu 2CO3, nu 3CO3 and amide region allowing a more detailed analysis of changes at the atomic level. Amorphous calcium phosphate dried at 80 degrees C, despite showing an X-ray diffraction amorphous structure, displayed carbonate in positions resembling a carbonated hydroxyapatite. Additional peaks were designated as A1 type, A2 type or B type. Deconvolution allowed the separation of CO3 positions in bone from amide peaks. FTIR-DRIFT spectrometry in combination with deconvolution offers an advanced tool for qualitative and quantitative determination of CO3, PO4 and HPO4 and shows promise to measure the degree of order.