THE PROPERTIES OF THE NANOSCALE SURFACE LAYER OF APATITE NANOPARTICLES ARE CRUCIAL WHEN CONSIDERED FOR MEDICAL COATINGS .
S C R U B B I N G U P
THE PROPERTIES OF THE NANOSCALE SURFACE LAYER OF APATITE NANOPARTICLES ARE CRUCIAL WHEN CONSIDERED FOR MEDICAL COATINGS .
Dr Tagaya
Apatites are a class of calcium-phosphorusbased inorganic compounds , with hydroxyapatite – a naturally occurring form found in bones . These compounds are known for their high biocompatibility . Recent studies have found that coating artificial joints and implants with apatite nanoparticles is a plausible solution for improving the biocompatibility of these biodevices . However , the artificially synthesized nanoparticles often show reduced binding affinity to biological tissues in vitro . According to Dr Tagaya and his team , this difference could be linked to the nanoscale surface layer of the apatite nanoparticles .
Dr Tagaya ’ s research was driven by a desire to unravel the complexities of biocompatible materials , leading his team to develop an interdisciplinary framework that controls the intricate interactions between apatite and biological systems . “ The properties of the nanoscale surface layer of apatite nanoparticles are crucial when considered for medical coatings ,” added Dr Tagaya . Adding further , he said : “ In this study , we successfully controlled the nanoscale surface layers of apatite nanoparticles , paving the way for advanced surface coating technologies for biodevices .”
The team synthesized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles by mixing aqueous solutions of calcium and phosphate ions . The pH of the solution was controlled using three different bases , which included tetramethylammonium hydroxide ( TMAOH ), sodium hydroxide ( NaOH ) and potassium hydroxide ( KOH ). The precipitated nanoparticles were then evaluated for their surface layer characteristics and were further used for coating via electrophoretic deposition .
The results revealed that pH was a key factor during synthesis , since it affected the crystalline phases , surface properties and electrophoretic deposition . On analysing the crystalline phases of the nanoparticles , it was observed that the choice of pH influenced the formation of different calcium
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