The Study of the Alginate / Hydroxyapatite Composites Structural Properties

Abstract

This paper describes the synthesis of sodium alginate (Alg) / hydroxyapatite (HA) composites and the influence of the presence of Alg on HA crystallization. Such composites become rather widespread in recent years, and are used in medicine generally for the controlled drug delivery [1‑3]. In one’s case, Alg is used as the functional and cost-effective replacement of the collagen for the creation of implants similar to the natural bone [4]. It was shown that the presence of Alg and the increase of its concentration leads to the decrease of the HA crystallinity thus providing an ability to control its levels in the resulting product. The FTIR studies confirm the incorporation of Alg in the Alg / HA composite structure.