FURI | Fall 2024

Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite Bone Mineral from different Calcium and Phosphate Precursors Via Sol-Gel Chemistry For Conformal Orthopedic Implant Coatings

There is a growing interest in replacing metal alloys with non-metal-fixation devices, specifically synthesizing hydroxyapatite (HA) to use as an implant coating for bone tissue integration. This study aims to synthesize HA from sol-gel chemistry technology that utilizes different calcium and phosphate precursors to develop a crystalline form of HA. Sol gel-derived HA coatings will be first with different HA precursors and subsequently processed using external (muffle furnace) and internal heating (microwave) processes. The sol-gel derived coatings will then be characterized with X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and electron microscopy from which an estimation of coating quality will be determined.