Hydroxyapatite-carboxymethyl cellulose nanocomposite biomaterial

An organic-mineral composite of hydroxyapatite (Ca-10(PO4)(6)(OH)(2)) nanoparticles and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is synthesized via coprecipitation from a solution containing CaCl2, aqueous ammonia, (NH4)(2)HPO4, and CMC. The composition and microstructure of the composite and the lattice parameters and particle size of the hydroxyapatite are determined using x-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques, electron diffraction, and x-ray microanalysis. The hydroxyapatite nanoparticles are shown to form agglomerates about 200 nm in size. The interaction between the nanoparticles and CMC macromolecules leads to the formation of a pore structure potentially attractive for biomedical applications.