Fabrication and characterization of hydroxyapatite/collagen bone-like nanocomposite through a self-assembly method

Abstract

Based on a self-assembly mechanism, a co-precipitation method was utilized to fabricate bone-like biomimetic nanocomposite with a simplifi ed preparation approach and accessible materials to investigate in depth some characteristics of hydroxyapatite/collagen(HAp/Col) nanocomposite for the elucidation of performances in some respects. The as-prepared composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The results show that HAp nanocrystals formed as preferentially oriented slender needles 50 - 100 nm in length on a felt-like Col matrix which is composed of large numbers of randomly oriented Col fi bers and showed polycrystalline behavior. The as-prepared cellular composites are analogous in both composition and nanostructured architecture to native bone, longer aging time promotes the growth and purifi cation of nano-HAp on Col, and characterization confi rms that chemical interaction occurs and causes intimate bonding between HAp and Col. © 2012 by Walter de Gruyter.