Ultrasound-induced albumin gelation method for the preparation of nanostructured hydroxyapatite.

An ultrasound-induced albumin gelation method was utilized to prepare nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAP). After ultrasound irradiation, hybrid colloids of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACaP) were formed, where the nanosized ACaP was homogenously distributed in the fibril-like BSA matrix. The freeze-dried BSA/ACaP sponge showed an oriented pore structure and the ACaP nanoparticles were transformed into nanostructured HAP after calcinations at 400–600 °C. With the aid of BSA/ACaP sponge, HAP nanocrystals were aggregated into rod-like nanostructures, which were merged into large rod-like HAP crystals at 700 °C. This study demonstrates that ultrasound-induced albumin gelation method can be successfully used to fabricate nanostructured HAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]