Synthesis, characterization, and biological properties of composites of hydroxyapatite and hexagonal boron nitride

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.34046

Hydroxyapatite (HA), obtained from bovine bones,was successfully reinforced with hexagonal boron nitrite (h-BN). h-BN/HA composites, with BN content up to 1.5 wt %,were sintered at various temperatures between 1000 and13008C, in air. Well-sintered samples were obtained after sin-tering at 1200 and 13008C. The presence of h-BN contributedto dense, fine, and well-crystallized microstructure. Theresults of X-ray diffraction analysis and FT-IR spectroscopyshowed that the produced composites comprised biphasic b-TCP/HCA (HCA: carbonate partially substituted HA). High val-ues of mechanical properties were achieved, namelycompression strength 155 MPa for the sample 0.5% h-BN/HAand Vickers microhardness of 716 HV for the samples 1.5% h-BN/HA, both sintered at 13008C. U2OS human bone osteosar-coma proliferation and cell viability showed no adverse effectin the presence of h-BN/HA, suggesting the potential use ofthe produced materials as safe biomaterials in bone tissueengineering.