Biomimetic synthesis of calcium phosphate and TiO2 nanomaterials nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of calcium phosphate (CaP) and TiO 2 nanomaterials (TiNM) recently have attracted significant attention due to their potential application as implant materials. TiNM can improve mechanical properties of CaP and can be used as drug delivery systems, as is the case with titanium nanotubes (TiNT). The aim of this research was to determine the influence of TiNM on spontaneous CaP formation with the purpose to develop biomimetic routes of synthesis of CaP/TiNM nanocomposites. The influence of TiO 2 nanoparticles (TiNP) and nanotubes (TiNT) on kinetics of precipitation, composition, structure and morphology of formed CaP phase was determined by potentiometric measurements, FTIR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Both TiNM exhibited dual influence on precipitation kinetics, i.e. inhibition at lower concentrations and promotion at higher concentrations. No significant differences in composition and morphology of formed precipitates were observed.