Fabrication and characterization of hydroxyapatite/collagen bone-like nanocomposite through a self-assembly method

Based on a self-assembly mechanism, a co-precipitation method was utilized to fabricate bone-like biomimetic nanocomposite with a simplified preparation approach and accessible materials to investigate in depth some characteristics of hydroxyapatite/collagen(HAp/Col) nanocomposite for the elucidation of performances in some respects. The as-prepared composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The results show that HAp nanocrystals formed as preferentially oriented slender needles 50–100 nm in length on a felt-like Col matrix which is composed of large numbers of randomly oriented Col fibers and showed polycrystalline behavior. The as-prepared cellular composites are analogous in both composition and nanostructured architecture to native bone, longer aging time promotes the growth and purification of nano-HAp on Col, and characterization confirms that chemical interaction occurs and causes intimate bonding between HAp and Col.