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New hydroxyapatite based nanomaterials for potential use in medical fields

Roxana M. Piticescu 2Gabrielle C. Chitanu 3Madalina L. Popescu 2Witold Łojkowski 1Agnieszka Opalińska 1Tomasz Strachowski 1

1. Polish Academy of Sciences, High Pressure Research Center (UNIPRESS), Sokolowska 29/37, Warszawa 01-142, Poland
2. Institute for Non-ferrous and Rare Metals, 102 Biruintei Blvd., Pantelimon 73957, Romania
3. Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Romanian Academy, Aleea Grigore Ghica Voda 41A, Iasi, Romania

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a biocompatilble material with good ostheoconductive properties. This ceramic material was intensively studied due to its similitude to structure and composition with natural bone. Its utilisation it is however limited due to its low mechanical strength. The aim of this paper is to find the most suitable reinforcing agent or additive for HAP in order to obtain biological active nanomaterials with improved mechanical properties. Different powders of pure HAP, zirconia-reinforced HAP and HAP-polymer composites have been prepared by the hydrothermal method. Yttria-doped zirconia helped the crystallization of HAP and inhibited the grain growth as showed by XRD patterns. In the case of polymer-HAP composites results obtained from XRD, SEM, BET and picnometric densities measurements made us to presume that some physical bonds were formed between organic and inorganic phase and the same inhibition effect of grain growth was observed for a concentration threshold. Expected applications of these new materials are in the field of dental implants or as filling material for implants.

 

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Presentation: oral at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2003, Symposium E, by Roxana M. Piticescu
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2003

Submitted: 2003-05-20 20:06
Revised:   2009-06-08 12:55