Microemulsion Synthesis of Mesoporous β-tricalcium Phosphate Powder with a Novel System

Abstract

The synthesis of mesoporous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) powder was performed by using the microemulsion approach, with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)/cyclohexane/n-octyl alcohol microemulsion system. The influences of different pH values and calcination temperatures on the phase composition of the β-TCP powder were studied. The in vitro proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the suspensions of β-TCP powders with meso-structure was studied. The phase composition, mesoporous structure, powder morphology, cell morphology and the optical density (OD) were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, inverted phase contrast microscopy and Multiskan spectrum, respectively. The mesoporous β-TCP powder with specific surface area of 12.85 m²/g and the average pore size 7.11 nm was obtained through the microemulsion approach (100 g/L CTAB/250 mL/L cyclohexane/250 mL/L n-octyl alcohol) with a controlled pH of 7.0, after calcinating the powder at 800 °C. It was confirmed that mesoporous β-TCP powder benefits the activity of BMSCs more than the non-mesoporous β-TCP powder.

Keywords

β-tricalcium phosphate / mesoporous / microemulsion / bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells