Hollow CDHA nanorods with mesopores on surface: Bi-micelle-templating method, dissolvability, cytocompatibility and protein delivery

•Hollow CDHA nanorods with mesopores were synthesized by a proposed strategy.•Product consists CDHA with diameter of 40 nm and length ranged from 150 to 200 nm.•Hollow of the rods sized around 36 nm and the mesopores sized around 3 nm.•The particles show great dissolvability and cytocompatibility.•The CDHA nanorods had enhanced protein load than traditional nanoparticles.

Calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) hollow seal-ended nanorods with mesopores on the surface were synthesized using a strategy of bi-micelle-templating method with P123 and tween 60 as two templates. The particles were characterized by XRD, EDS, FTIR, SEM, TEM, particle distribution and N2 adsorption–desorption techniques. The product consisted CDHA with Ca/P of 1.54. The nanorods had a size of 40 nm in diameter and length ranged from 150 to 200 nm. The hollow of the rods mainly sized at 36 nm and the mesopores on the surface sized around 3 nm. The BET surface areas of the nanoparticles were 21.95 m2 g−1 and BJH average pore size were 35.95 nm. The dissolvability and cytocompatibility were evaluated in vitro. The prepared CDHA nanorods had enhanced protein load than traditional nanoparticles. The protein release dynamic also showed the loaded nanoparticles had sustained release behavior in 72 h, and had a total release of 84.2%.

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