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Synthesis of Graphene-Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites for Potential Use in Bone Tissue Engineering
Published on: July 27, 2022
Hydroxyapatite-collagen composites. Part I: can the decrease of the interactions between the two components be a
Niccoletta Barbani1, Elisabetta Rosellini, Caterina Cristallini
1Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Chimica Industriale e Scienza dei Materiali, Università di Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract:
The interactions of Type I acid soluble collagen (Col) with both carbonate-free hydroxyapatite (HA(1100)) and carbonate-rich one (CHA) were investigated. The aim was to ascertain whether the increase of bone CO(3) (2-) with ageing could relate to the disease known as osteoporosis. HA(1100)-Col and CHA-Col composites with various ratios were prepared and examined. Scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry showed a stronger adhesion of the Col matrix to the granules of HA(1100) than to those of CHA. FT-IR spectroscopy showed that with HA(1100) both multiple hydrogen bonds of Col peptide -NH groups with HA PO(4) (3-), and electrochemical interactions between Col peptide -C=O groups and HA Ca(2+) were present. In the presence of CO(3) (2-), the interactions between -NH and phosphate were diminished, and Ca(2+) interacted more strongly with CO(3) (2-) than with peptide -C=O, so causing a separation between the two components of the bone extra-cellular matrix. The results obtained strengthen the hypothesis that the substitution of PO(4) (3-) ions by CO(3) (2-) ions in the HA lattice might be a significant component of osteoporosis, although further investigation is needed.
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