Effects of Calcium and Alginate Concentration on the Calcium-Deficient Hydroxyapatite Hydrogel Bead Formation

The preparation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHAp) beads via immobilization in Ca-alginate hydrogel was studied in current research. CDHAp beads of different shapes were prepared by dropwise adding of aqueous CDHAp/Na-alginate suspension to an aqueous and ethanolic Ca(NO3)2 solutions. The alginate cross-linking rate was modeled via gelling boundary migration experiment. Prepared beads were washed with deionized water and dried. The beads had lost up to 30% of the diameter comparing to the original after drying (24 h, 60 oC).