Characterisation of phosphate coacervates for potential biomedical applications
David M Pickup1, Robert J Newport, Emma R Barney
11School of Physical Sciences, Ingram Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK.
Journal of Biomaterials Applications
|September 19, 2013
Summary
Amorphous calcium phosphate coacervates, prepared via a novel method, exhibit structural similarity to glasses. Silver-doped variants show promising antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials
- Inorganic Chemistry
Background:
- Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) materials are investigated for various applications.
- Understanding the structure and properties of ACPs is crucial for their development.
- Coacervate methods offer an alternative route for synthesizing ACPs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize amorphous calcium phosphate coacervates using a coacervate method.
- To characterize the structure and water content of the synthesized ACPs.
- To evaluate the potential of these ACPs as delivery agents for antibacterial ions.
Main Methods:
- Coacervate method for sample preparation.
- Thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) to study water content.
- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for structural analysis.
- X-ray total diffraction for structural elucidation.
Main Results:
- Amorphous (Na2O)x(CaO)0.50-x(P2O5)0.50·yH2O samples were successfully prepared.
- Two types of water molecules were identified within the coacervate structure.
- Structural analysis confirmed similarity to melt-quenched glasses, irrespective of calcium source.
- Silver-doped ACPs demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Conclusions:
- The coacervate method is a viable route for preparing amorphous calcium phosphates.
- The synthesized ACPs possess a stable structure comparable to conventional glasses.
- Silver-doped ACPs show potential as effective antibacterial delivery agents.
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