Induction and morphology of hydroxyapatite, precipitated from metastable simulated body fluids on sol-gel prepared silica.

Hydroxyapatite crystallization is induced at 37 degrees C by sol-gel prepared silica from metastable calcium phosphate solutions. The morphology of the apatite forming on the silica surface depends on the nature of the solutions. For example, apatite grew in a flake-like form at pH 7.4. The morphology changed to plate-like when the pH was adjusted to pH 7.2. At this lower pH, the apatite plate even exhibited a hexagonal feature, reflecting the unique hexagonal structure of hydroxyapatite. An increase in either Mg or P ion concentration of the fluid can cause apatite to grow in a rod-like shape while addition of F ions to the fluid leads to a perfect needle pattern. The flake geometry of apatite was not altered by increasing Ca concentration from 2.5 to 3.8 mM in the solution. From this we conclude that sol-gel prepared silica is an efficient apatite inducer and the morphology of the hydroxyapatite deposit is determined by factors of the fluid such as pH, Ca/P molar ratio, Mg and F concentrations.