Solvo-hydrothermal synthesis of calcium phosphate nanostructures from calcium inositol hexakisphosphate precursor in water-ethanol mixed solutions

Abstract

We report the synthesis and characterization of crystalline calcium phosphate (CaP) nanostructures from calcium inositol hexakisphosphate (CaIP6) precursor in water-ethanol mixed solutions. We show how these CaPs can be prepared by a solvo-hydrothermal reaction and determined their compositions and structures using a battery of material characterization techniques. Our results show that only the hydroxyapatite (HAP) and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) phases of CaP were present in the nanostructures produced in water-ethanol mixtures, and that HAP/DCPA ratio of the rod- and plate-shaped CaP nanostructures produced were affected by the amount of ethanol present in these mixtures. The described method can be used to improve morphological control of CaP-based biomate-rials and has potential use in bone regenerative medicine.