Synthesis and Characterization of Luminescent Nano Hydroxyapatite (n-HAP)

Abstract

Luminescent mesoporous europium or terbium doped hydroxyapatite (Eu/Tb: HAp) was successfully prepared through a simple one-step co-precipitation method using block copolymer pluronic 123. The phase, morphology, composition and luminescent property of Eu/Tb: HAp powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectrophotometry and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). XRD analysis reveals the nanocrystalline nature of HAP with crystallite size 22 nm. SEM images indicate the formation of ultrafine particles with uniform spherical morphology. In Eu/Tb: HAP the maximum intensities were achieved at 588 and 544 nm respectively with corresponding excitations at 400 and 340 nm. The stability of Eu/Tb: HAp, investigated by measuring the hydrodynamic size against time shows that there is almost no change of hydrodynamic size even after several days. This observation implies that such stable nanosystems can be used as luminescent drug carriers which can circulate in the blood stream for a long period minimizing the rapid clearance of particles by macrophages