Iranian researchers used a new method to produce hydroxyapatite powder with smaller size and lower cost.
In this research, a material has been used as the growth cores, which enables the control of crystalline structure in hydroxyapatite during the production. The product has direct applications in the production of medical and dentistry implants, including bone powder, bolt coating and orthopedics plates.
Among the advantages of this plan, mention can be made of increasing the rate of the production of hydroxyapatite particles, decreasing size of final particles, modifying physical and mechanical properties of the particles as biocompatible material and reducing the production cost.
Numerous researchers are currently being carried out on the synthesis of hydroxyapatite inorganic powder at nanometric scale, the ratio of appropriate raw materials, and high degree of crystallization. The reason is that nanoparticles have much better properties than the similar micro-particles. The aim of the research is to present a method for the production of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles by using nanoliposomes as a new and applicable method in the production of nanoparticles.
Based on the results, particles size and their distribution can be controlled through this method. Moreover, this method prevents the accumulation of particles. The synthesized nanoparticles are 50-60 nm in diameter and they have narrow size distribution.
The shape and size of crystals in the structure of hydroxyapatite affects many properties of this compound, including mechanical properties, such as fracture strength and fracture toughness, surface characteristics, biocompatibility and solubility. Therefore, controlling the crystallization structure of hydroxyapatite results in the extension of its applications in various industries.
Results of the research have been published in Ceramics International, vol. 40, issue 7, Part A, August 2014, pp. 9377-9381.