Effect of swift heavy ion irradiation on hydrothermally synthesized hydroxyapatite ceramics

The effect of swift heavy ion irradiation on hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramic – a bone mineral was investigated. The irradiation experiment was conducted using oxygen ions at energy of 100 MeV with three different fluences of 1012, 1013, 1014 ions/cm2. The irradiated samples were characterized by glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). GXRD confirmed incomplete amorphisation of HAp with increase in fluence. There was considerable reduction in particle size on irradiation leading to nanosized HAp (upto 53 nm). PL studies showed emission in the visible wavelength region. The irradiated samples exhibited better bioactivity than the pristine HAp.