Aqueous mediated synthesis of bioresorbable nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite

An attempt was made to enhance the bioresorbability of hydroxyapatite (HA) by controlling its particle size to nano/submicron level. A wet chemical method was employed for the synthesis of HA nanocrystals at low temperature in an aqueous medium having the ability of bioresorbtion in stimulated body fluid. The prepared free flowing nano HA was characterized for its phase purity, chemical homogeneity and functionality. The obtained results indicated that it has nanoscale morphological structure with mean particle size of 220 nm in diameter. Further, its ionic dissolution rate was found to be quite higher than conventional HA and closer to biological apatite owing to its nanostructure processing. Accordingly, it suggests that the nano-HA has superior bioresorblion and close chemical and crystallographic structure with natural bone apatite. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.