One step synthesis of silver nanorods by autoreduction of aqueous silver ions with hydroxyapatite: an inorganic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposite

In this report, a novel method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles on the surface of hydroxyapatite is described. Hydroxyapatite crystals are synthesized from acid mineralized solution, a byproduct of bone glue industries, by a simple chemical precipitation method, which results in the formation of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals. The reduction of silver ions occurs by the electron transfer from the hydroxyl groups on the surface of hydroxyapatite. This results in the formation of silver nanorods and needle shaped nanoparticles that are bound on the surface of hydroxyapatite, and the observed silver nanocrystals show anisotropic structure. Thus, hydroxyapatite crystals can be used as a new class of inorganic scaffolds for the synthesis of nanomaterials with implications in designing inorganic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites for different applications. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 80A: 391-398, 2007.