Surface modification of hydroxyapatite. Part II. Silica.

Nanophase hydroxyapatite (HAP) particles were coated with varying amounts of silica (5-75wt%) via the hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate. The nanocomposite particles were characterized by transmission electron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), BET N(2) gas adsorption, sedimentation time studies, acid dissolution, and zeta potential (zeta). A sequential decrease in infrared spectral features characteristic of HAP was accompanied by an increase in features characteristic of silica as revealed by DRIFTS. The specific surface area of the silica-coated HAP particles showed a non-systematic increase. In comparison to the uncoated HAP (50m(2)/g), silica coatings of 5, 25, 50 and 75wt% yielded specific surface areas of 55, 93, 70, and 138m(2)/g, respectively. This behavior can be explained based on a heterocoagulation coating mechanism in which silica clusters of approximately 14nm in diameter adsorb onto the HAP particle surface. The decrease in specific surface area at 50wt% silica corresponded to the attainment of a complete surface coating. This conclusion was substantiated by the observed resistance of these particles to dissolution in 1M HCl. However, the acid treatment transformed the silica-coated HAP core particles to CaCl(2).Ca(H(2)PO(4))(2).2H(2)O (calcium chloride phosphate hydrate) based on XRD analysis.