Influence of preferred orientation on the bioactivity of hydroxyapatite: A potential tooth repair and implant surface coating material

Bioactive hydroxyapatite (HAp) material was synthesized using a simple wet chemical precipitation and heat-treatment method from snail (Achatina achatina) shells and a phosphate-containing solution. According to X-ray diffraction patterns obtained, the heat-treatment caused a crystallographic preferred orientation along the HAp c-axis and thus, affected the material mineralization and bioactivity modeled in vitro using simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 and 21 days. After 21 days of immersion, calcium and phosphate mineral concentrations in SBF decreased by 66% and 83%, respectively. This corresponded to a transformation from a poor calcium amorphous apatite phase (calcium phosphate) to a resorbing crystalline calcium apatite indicated by scanning electron microscopy micrographs. The material crystallite size (~15 nm), lattice parameters, physicochemical properties, and morphological characteristics were all typical of the human enamel apatite and, therefore, could be considered ideal for use in tooth repairs and implant surface coatings.