In situ hydroxyapatite nanofiber growth on calcium borate silicate ceramics in SBF and its structural characteristics

摘要

A novel calcium silicate borate Ca_(11)Si_4B_2O_(22) ceramic was firstly prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction. In vitro hydroxyapatite mineralization was investigated by soaking the ceramics in simulated body fluid (SBF) solutions at body temperature (37 ℃) for various time periods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) measurements were applied to investigate the samples before and after the immersion of ceramics in SBF solution. The elemental compositions of a hydroxyapatite layer on the ceramics during the mineralization were confirmed by X-ray energy-dispersive spectra (EDS). Meanwhile, the bending strength and elastic modulus of Ca_(11)Si_4B_2O_(22) ceramics were also measured, which indicate that the biomaterials based on Ca_(11)Si_4B_2O_(22) ceramics possess bioactivity and might be a potential candidate as biomaterials for hard tissue repair. The bioactive mineralization ability was evaluated on the base of its crystal structural characteristics, i.e., silanol (Si-OH) and B-OH groups can be easily induced on the surface of Ca_(11)Si_4B_2O_(22) ceramics soaked in SBF solutions.