Effect of Texture on the Rate of Hydroxyapatite Formation on Gel‐Silica Surface

Abstract

An apatite layer can be formed on pure gel‐silica soaked in simulated body fluid. The rate of formation depends on solution parameters and sintering temperature of the gelsilica. In this study, the effect of the texture of the gel‐silica on the rate of hydroxyapatite formation was investigated. The apatite formation was monitored by means of Fourier‐transform infrared reflection spectroscopy as well as by the measurement of changes in the ion concentration of the fluid. The induction time for apatite nucleation on the gel silica decreased as pore size and pore volume increased. The substrate parameters that affect nucleation are discussed and a mechanism that assumes pores as nucleation sites for hydroxyapatite is proposed.