Silicon effect on the composition and structure of nanocalcium phosphates: In vitro biocompatibility to human osteoblasts

•Nanostructured calcium phosphates with different silicon contents were synthesized.•Scaffolds made from hydroxyapatites with Si were used in human osteoblast cultures.•All scaffolds proved to be biocompatible to human osteoblasts in vitro.•Cell adhesion & proliferation were improved for scaffolds with 0.47 and 2.34% Si.

Nanostructured calcium phosphates, such as nanohydroxyapatite (HAP) and HAP with silicon content (HAP-Si) of 0.47 wt.% (1% SiO2), 2.34 wt.% (5% SiO2) and 4.67 wt.% (10% SiO2) in the final product, were synthesized by aqueous precipitation, freeze dried and then calcined at 650, 950 and 1150 °C. The obtained materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. From the analysis of the XRD patterns, the HAP and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) phases were identified and their amounts in the samples were estimated. The size of HAP and β-TCP crystallites was estimated to be in the nanocrystalline domain. FTIR spectra showed the presence of characteristic vibrations for P–O, H–O and Si–O groups and their modification with Si content and calcination temperature. TEM, SEM and AFM images also revealed the morphology of the particles and of their aggregates. These materials have been used to manufacture scaffolds which were tested for their influence on adhesion and proliferation of cells, in human osteoblast culture, considering their further use in bone reconstruction. It was found that an appropriate addition of silicon in nanocalcium phosphate scaffolds leads to an enhanced adhesion and proliferation of cells in osteoblasts in vitro.