Analysis of Particle Size Distribution of Fluor-Hydroxyapatite Nanopowder Prepared via Sol-Gel Method by Zetasizer Measurement

Human bones are composed of highly interconnected inorganic hard tissues (calcium phosphates) and organic soft components (collagen fibers). Synthetic hydroxyapatite [HA, Ca10(PO4)6OH2] has long been recognized as one of the most important bone substitute materials in orthopaedics and dentistry over past few decades because of its chemical and biological similarity to the mineral phase of human bone [1]. Moreover, their direct bonding capability to the surrounding tissues characterized them as excellent biocompatible materials after implantation.Along with HA, fluorapatite [FA, Ca10(PO4)6F2] also interested noticeable attention in long-term chemical and mechanical stability areas[2]. Pure FA is recognized to possess a lower bio-resorption rate than HA, and comparable biocompatibility to HA for fixation to bone and bone ingrowth [3]. Furthermore, FA creats a fluor-hydroxyapatite [FHA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH,F)2] solid solution with HA by replacing F- with OH- [4]. F-practically itself has been widely studied in dental restoration fields, due to it prevents dental caries in a bacteria containing, acidic conditions [4]. Moreover, F- increased the mineralization and crystallization of calcium phosphate in the bone forming process [5]. Recently, the usage of sol–gel techniques for synthesis of fluor-hydroxyapatite became a significant investigation field. The sol–gel technique offers certain advantages, because of fine grain structure, high chemical homogeneity, and low crystallization temperature of the obtained powder, as well as its being both an economical and technically simple procedure to perform [6].