Hydroxyapatite nanopowders prepared in the presence of zirconium ions

Hydroxyapatite nanopowders were prepared in the presence of different concentrations of zirconium ions. Such crystallization conditions yielded significantly reduced particle size and increased specific surface area. Cell viability and oxidative stress studies showed that biocompatibility was not impaired when compared to pure hydroxyapatite. Non-isothermal sintering implied the possibility for suppressing the reaction between hydroxyapatite and zirconia by limiting it to only calcium phosphates. Stress-induced transformation of tetragonal to monoclinic zirconia is facilitated by total hydroxyapatite to β-tricalcium phosphate phase transformation.