"Artificially induced surface charge in hydroxyapatite"

Syed A. M. Tofail

Materials and Surface Science Institute (MSSI), University of Limerick, National Technological Park, Limerick, Ireland

Tofail.Syed@ul.ie

Surface charge of hydroxyapatite, a hydrated calcium phosphate very similar to the inorganic component of bone, is known to affect protein adherence and subsequent cellular responses that result in the formation of mechanically and chemically bonded bone directly on the surface of hydroxyapatite. Current trends in the field of tissue engineering and bone graft substitute design are directed towards surface modifications to improve cell attachments, bone bonding and scaffold biocompatibility. The assumption behind such approach has been derived from the non-polar crystal structure of hydroxyapatite thus excluding the possibility of surface charge in pure hydroxyapatite playing a role. Here we explain why this may not necessarily be the case and demonstrate ways of inducing surface charge in synthetic hydroxyapatite.