Selective protein adsorption and blood compatibility of hydroxy-carbonate apatites

We examined the blood compatibility and protein adsorption on hydroxyapatite and hydroxy-carbonate apatite. Those apatites were synthesized under a 0, 5, or 15% CO(2)-containing N(2) atmosphere by a wet-chemical method with a strong ammonia alkali solution of calcium nitrate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate (5:3 in molar ratio) and subsequent calcination in the range of 105-700 degrees C. From infrared (IR) analysis, the carbonate ions substituted both phosphate ions and hydroxyl ions in the hydroxyapatite lattice; the intensities of IR bands assignable to phosphate ions and hydroxyl ions were reduced on calcinations. The specific surface areas of synthesized apatites decreased with increasing calcination temperature. Blood-clotting properties were evaluated in terms of active partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and the amount of fibrinogen for the plasma in contact with the apatites, indicating that all the apatites barely influenced the blood clotting system. The apatites were in contact with a solution containing both bovine serum albumin (BSA) and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG), and the amounts of those proteins adsorbed on them were examined: the amount of absorbed BSA and beta(2)-MG gradually increased with the calcination temperature below 500 degrees C, while it showed a sudden increase when more than 600 degrees C. Hydroxy-carbonate apatite synthesized under a 15% CO(2)-containing N(2) atmosphere and calcined below 400 degrees C had the greatest selectivity in adsorbing beta(2)-MG. Thus, a higher selectivity for beta(2)-MG adsorption was empirically correlated to carbonate ions incorporated in the hydroxyapatite lattice.