Facile fabrication of nano-hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin composite via a simplified coprecipitation route

Nano-hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin (n-HA/SF) composite was successfully fabricated based on a simplified coprecipitation route. In detail, the degummed SF was first dissolved in CaCl2 aqueous/ethanol solution without desalting procedure, and then (NH4)2HPO4 solution and NH4OH were dropped into the above solution to form n-HA/SF composite. The structure and morphology of n-HA/SF composite were investigated by Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, energy dispersive X-Ray spectrum, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analyses. Results indicate that the inorganic phase is carbonate-substituted HA with low crystallinity and similar to the crystals of human bone. The HA crystals have diameter of around 20–30 nm and length of about 200–500 nm. The content of SF in the composite is about 30%, and the two phases bonded each other strongly. In addition, a formation mechanism of n-HA/SF was proposed.