Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite doped with selenium oxyanions: A new material for potential biomedical applications

摘要

Selenium-substituted hydroxyapatites containing selenate SeO_4 ~(2?) or selenite SeO_3 ~(2?) ions were synthesized using awet precipitationmethod. The seleniumcontentwas determined by atomic absorbance spectrometry. The raw, unsintered powders were also characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, middle-range FT-IR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic microanalysis. The synthesized apatites were found to be pure and nanocrystalline with a crystal size similar to that in bone mineral. The incorporation of selenium oxyanions into the crystal lattice was confirmed. The toxicity of hydroxyapatites containing selenite or selenate ions was evaluated with a protozoan assay and bacterial luminescence test.