Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

This paper reports a biomolecule-assisted hydrothermal method to synthesize hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanocrystals. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The data showed that the growth process of the HAP nanocrystals was composed of nucleation and growth processes. HAP nanocrystals can inhibit the proliferation of human HeLa cells in dose- and time-dependent manners, suggesting the promising potential of HAP nanocrystals in cancer therapy. Also, HAP nanocrystals own excellent mechanical properties, suggesting promising applications in dental restoration. This approach opens up vast opportunities for the synthesis and potential applications of nanostructures in the biomedical field.