Complete chemical and structural characterization of selenium-incorporated hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) has long been used as synthetic bone tissue replacement material. Recent advances in this area have led to development of dual-functional bioceramics exhibiting high biocompability/osteoconductivity together with the therapeutic effect. Selenium, in that respect, is an effective therapeutic agent with promising antioxidant activity and anticancer effects. In this study, selenium-incorporated hydroxyapatite (HAp:Se) particles have been synthesized by modified aqueous precipitation method using calcium (Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O) and phosphate ((NH₄)₂HPO₄) salts and sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃). The effects of selenium incorporation and post-synthesis calcination treatment (900-1100 °C) on physical, chemical properties and crystal structure of resultant HAp powders have been investigated. Complete chemical identification was performed with spectroscopical analyses including Fourier transform infrared and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to elucidate the mechanism and chemical nature of selenium incorporation in HAp. Meanwhile, detailed x-ray diffraction studies by Rietveld refinement have conducted to explain changes in the HAp crystal structure upon selenium incorporation.