The influence of methylcellulose (MC) on solubility of calcium hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals in HA/MC nanocomposites

Abstract

The influence of methylcellulose ([C₆H₇O₂(OH)_3–x(OCH₃)_x]_n, MC) on the morphology and solubility of calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂, GA) nanocrystals (NCs) in GA/MC organomineral nanocomposites (OMCs) is studied. GA/MC OMCs with the MC content of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 wt % are synthesized in the Ca(OH)₂–H₃PO₄–[C₆H₇O₂(OH)_3–x(OCH₃)_x]_n–H₂O system under biomimetic conditions (37°C). The composition and structural features of OMCs, as well as crystallographic characteristics, size, and morphology of GA NC in OMCs, are determined via chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IRS), thermal analysis (DTA and DTG), scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, and electron diffraction (ED). It is shown that the growth in the MC concentration in OMCs leads to the change in the GA NC morphology and the increase in their solubility (for Ca²⁺ and PO₄^3- ions).