Nucleation of calcium hydroxyapatite thin films from simulated body fluid

Abstract

Calcium hydroxyapatite (CHA) formation was produced by biomimetic deposition on the surfaces of silica layers of the steel bands, using slightly modified simulated body fluid (SBF). The used SBF had a pH value of 7.4 and a similar ionic composition like human plasma. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) method was used to analyse obtained phases on the surfaces of silica films after various times of sample soaking in SBF. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations pointed out the mechanism of CHA nucleation. Mass changes investigations of the CHA thin films showed that the depth of CHA films was dependent on the aging time of silica substrate in SBF.