Modification of hydroxyapatite/gelatin nanocomposite using polyacrylamide.

A hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin (GEL) nanocomposite was mixed with mineralized polyacrylamide (PAM) to produce a macrocomposite. The mineralization of PAM was carried out by solution-precipitation using Ca(OH)(2) and H(3)PO(4). The crystal growth of HAp in PAM was moderately changed from amorphous-like nanocrystalline to crystalline with the increase of PAM. The dry body of HAp/PAM nanocomposite cracked after the immersion test in water, but the cross-linked sample using glutaraldehyde did not crack. The macrocomposite of HAp/GEL nanocomposite and HAp/PAM nanocomposite showed good toughness, but cracked after the immersion test in water. The cross-linked macrocomposite sample did not crack after the immersion test in water.