Control of biomimetic hydroxyapatite deposition on polymer substrates using different protein adsorption abilities

We recently developed a system for coating polystyrene (PS) substrates with hydroxyapatite (HAp) by utilizing serum protein adsorption layers as mediators to induce the heterogeneous nucleation of HAp in simulated body fluids (SBFs). In this study, the selective deposition of HAp on polymer substrate surfaces with different protein adsorption abilities was investigated using PS and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Atomic force microscopic observations and the results of a quantitative analysis using a quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) revealed that the amounts of proteins such as human serum albumin (HSA) and human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) adsorbed on PS substrate surfaces were markedly greater than those on PMMA substrate surfaces. A markedly larger amount of HAp was deposited on protein-treated PS substrate surfaces than on PMMA substrate surfaces, reflecting protein adsorption to polymers. We also revealed that the deposition of HAp on protein-adsorbed PS substrate surfaces was enhanced by aqueous calcium chloride treatments before immersion in 1.5SBF. In the case of 2.5 M calcium chloride treatment, these surfaces were completely covered with deposits.