Study of synthesis of nano-hydroxyapatite using a silk fibroin template

Nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) was directly synthesized on a silk fibroin (SF) template using the property of SF being soluble in a concentrated CaCl(2) solution as a HA source of calcium at pH 7.4 and room temperature. The microstructure and bonding state were investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetry analysis (DSC-TG) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that the HA crystals were poorly crystallized with a rod-like shape of 20-60 nm length and 10-20 nm diameter. Strong molecular interactions and chemical bonds might be present between SF and HA. There were other nucleation sites such as carbonyl (-C-O) and amine (-N-H-) groups on SF molecules besides the carboxyl (-COOH) and hydroxyl (-OH) groups previously reported. During the formation of HA, the coordination action between specific functional groups on SF and calcium ions (Ca(2+)) played an important role. The crystallinity of HA was improved and had an orientation growth along (0 0 2) at the presence of SF, resulting in a structure similar to natural bone. It was concluded that SF could regulate the structure and morphology of HA effectively.