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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanospheres were synthesized via the sol-gel route in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The HA nanospheres were formed from the reaction between (NH4)2HPO4 and CaCl2 in ethanol/PVA sol-gel system, in which ammonia solution (NH3•H2O) was added to adjust the pH of solution. The as-synthesized products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). XRD patterns and FTIR spectra showed that the HA nanospheres exhibit the crystalline structure and vibration bands of HA. The Ca/P molar ratio of HA nanospheres (50˜70nm) approached the stoichiometric value of 1.67, on the basis of EDAX results. Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) immersion test for three weeks demonstrated that the apatite layer can be formed on the HA nanospheres sintered at 550°C.