Deposition of Carbonated Hydroxyapatite (CO(3)HAp) on Poly(Methylmethacrylate) Surfaces by Decomposition of Calcium-EDTA Chelate

Inspired from the nature, the development of organic-inorganic composites between polymers and hydroxyapatite (HAp) has been investigated extensively. In this study, bone-like apatite (carbonated hydroxyapatite, CO(3)HAp) was precipitated on poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) films by the oxidative decomposition of Ca-EDTA (calcium-ethylenediamine tetraacetate) chelates. Corona-treated PMMA films were soaked in a Ca-EDTA-PO4-H2O2 solution and aged at 63 degrees C and pH similar to 9 for times ranging from 1 to 24 h. Apatite formed on PMMA films was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope, energy-dipersive X-ray spectroscopy, and carbon analysis. The apatite was found to be CO(3)HAp with Ca/P atomic ratio ranging between 1.3 and 1.9. Elemental analyses indicated that the carbonate content of the apatite phase was around 6.5 wt% after 24 h of aging time. Lattice parameters were estimated using a Rietveld profile-analysis and found to be a = 0.9438 nm and c = 0.6901 nm. Furthermore, FTIR spectra indicated that the apatite deposited on PMMA was B-type CO(3)HAp, in which carbonate ions occupy the phosphate sites. In the first 3 h of aging, isolated rod-like HAp particles were observed. With time, the needle-like crystallites radiate from a nucleus to form double-spherulite shape particles. The crystallites grew into a continuous layer with a thickness of similar to 15 mu m after 24-h aging. The adhesive strength between the PMMA substrate and the apatite layer was determined to be around 1.7 MPa.