Synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanorods assisted by Pluronics

Pluronics F127, P123, and F87 were employed to synthesize hydroxyapatite nanorods for biomedical applications. The calcium phosphate precipitates were characterized by XRD, TEM/EDS, FTIR, and TGA. Pluronics affected the phase evolution of the calcium phosphate precursors in the mother solution at room temperature. The hydroxyapatite nanorods with a diameter of 20 nm, a length of 100 nm, and a Ca/P ratio of 1.70 were obtained after the precursors were heated at 140 °C for 3 h in a Teflon-lined autoclave. There is about 2 wt% Pluronic on the surface of hydroxyapatite. The hydroxyapatite with a small amount of organics on the surface can be potentially used as fillers in biomedical composites with excellent biological and mechanical properties.