Morphological changes in biomimetically synthesized hydroxyapatite and silver nanoparticles for medical applications

Abstract

A precise control of morphology, which plays a significant role towards the application of materials, can be achieved by studying the effects of macromolecules as nucleation templates for minerals in a biomineralization process. The present investigation aims to understand such effects on medically important materials. Thus, Silver (Ag) and Calcium hydroxyapatite [Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂] were synthesized in both biopolymer (gelatin) and synthetic polymer (PVA) media, with aqueous medium as the control to portray a collage of how the interface between the macromolecule and the mineral controls the final morphology of the materials. It was also observed that the change of morphology of the products does influence their performances in specific applications like antibacterial property of the nanoparticles of silver was found to the best when synthesized in aqueous media. Thus, we consider that the organic-inorganic interaction to be of vital significance in the synthesis of complex shapes and sizes of nanoparticles for important applications.