Preparation and characterization of periodic porous frame of hydroxyapatite

Abstract

Three-dimensional, periodic macroporous frame of hydroxyapatite(HA) has been fabricated via a template-assisted colloidal processing technique. In the present method, colloidal template was firstly prepared with SiO2 spheres by gravitational sedimentation, which was then infiltrated with HA precursor prepared by sol-gel process. The resulting HA therefore replicated the three-dimensionally ordered macroporous structure of SiO2 template. After removal of the template by immersing in NaOH solution, the periodic macroporous frame made from HA was obtained. The arrangement of the pore structure was hexagonal close-packed and pores were connected with each other. The resulting highly ordered macroporous frame of HA could have potential applications in bio-medical field.