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Solvothermal synthesis of nonstoichiometric hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

Witold Łojkowski 1Dariusz Smoleń 1Wojciech Swieszkowski 2Tadeusz Chudoba 1Aleksandra Kędzierska 1Jacek Wojnarowicz 1

1. Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics (UNIPRESS), Sokolowska 29/37, Warszawa 01-142, Poland
2. Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering (InMat), Wołoska 141, Warszawa 02-507, Poland

Abstract

Today, the most common approach for regrow of bone in case of large bone gaps is to use autografts. In this case two or more operations are needed, with increased risk, suffering and costs for the patient. There is also an emerging market for hydroxyapatite (HAp) and calcium phosphate (TCP) in the form of paste or granulates used to fill small bone gaps. For large bone gaps bone regrowth scaffolds are being developed, but still exist unsolved problems like: low regrowth rate, poor mechanical properties of the scaffolds, high risk of inflammatory processes and slow or no resorbtion. Therefore the main objectives of the current regeneration medicine projects is to develop the technology for a bioactive scaffold with improved comparing to  the state of the art control of shape, mechanical properties, bioactivity and resorbability. One of the ways to achieve these goals is to produce nonstoichiometric nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite with grain size lower than 10 nm and shape close to the natural HAp which will be used as material for bioactive, mechanically strong scaffolds.

The Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IHPP) is an expert in synthesis of doped nanoparticles with narrow size distribution, at relatively low temperatures by using Microwave Solvothermal Synthesis (MSS) technology. The MSS technology permits synthesis of nanoparticles with precise control of the reaction time, temperature and pressure. IHPP and the Faculty of Materials Science, Warsaw University of Technology, created a joint Center for Bionanomaterials and started cooperation to develop materials for bone regrowth scaffolds. Thanks to unique worldwide reactors for microwave solvothermal synthesis of nanoparticles, IHPP is able to synthesize unique HAp nanoparticles using the standard reaction: 

Ca(OH)2 + H3PO4 → HAp + H2

The reaction is carried out in water solution in time lower than 5 minutes. The specific surface is almost 240m2/g, the average grain size lower than 10 nm with shape in the form of platelets mimicking the natural bone particles.

 

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Submitted: 2011-08-29 10:03
Revised:   2011-08-29 10:03