Laser-assisted production of tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles from biological and synthetic hydroxyapatite in aqueous medium

Pulsed laser ablation technique has attracted great attention as a method for preparing nanoparticles. In this work, calcined fish bones and synthetic hydroxyapatite, have been used as target to be ablated in de-ionized water with a pulsed CO2 laser to produce calcium phosphate nanoparticles. The obtained nanoparticles were amorphous and spherical in shape with a mean diameter of about 25 nm. The microanalyses revealed that nanoparticles obtained from the synthetic HA undergo transformation to tricalcium phosphate. While nanoparticles obtained from the biological hydroxyapatite mostly preserve the composition of precursor material.

Research highlights▶ CaP nanoparticles were obtained from synthetic and biologic HA. ▶ The method used was CO2 laser ablation de-ionized water. ▶ Obtained nanoparticles were amorphous and spherical with a mean diameter of 25 nm. ▶ Nanoparticles obtained from synthetic HA transform to tricalcium phosphate. ▶ Nanoparticles obtained from the biological HA mostly preserve its composition.