Biomimetic fabrication and characterization of collagen/strontium hydroxyapatite nanocomposite

Strontium-releasing bioactive materials have attracted considerable attention for patients with osteoporotic bone defects due to its ability to stimulate bone formation and decrease bone resorption. In the present study, type I collagen/strontium hydroxyapatite nanocomposite (cSrHA) was fabricated via a non-classical biomimetic mineralization pathway. Mineralized collagen fibrils with nanosized SrHA embedded in intrafibrillar interstices were obtained using poly(acrylic acid) as a biomimetic mineralizing director. The resultant nanocomposite was characterized by SEM, TEM, EDS, ATR-FTIR, XRD and TGA. cSrHA displayed morphologies, nanostructures and characteristics similar to those of natural hard tissue and calcium hydroxyapatite-mineralized collagen (cCaHA), indicating its potential value as a biofunctional material for bone engineering.