Fabrication of silver/beta‐tricalcium phosphate particle by a simple liquid chemical reduction method

Abstract

Using beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), silver nitrate and glucose as the carrier, silver resource and reducing agent, silver/beta-TCP particle was successfully fabricated by a novel liquid chemical reduction method to overcome the infection problem of beta-TCP. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the as-obtained sample confirmed the existence of metallic silver in the particle. The addition of silver nanoparticle affected the thermal stability of beta-TCP and prevented the transformation from beta-TCP to alpha-TCP. Transmission electron microscopy images and the corresponding calculation result proved the mean size and size distribution of silver nanoparticles in the silver/beta-TCP particle could be controlled by varying the molar ratio between beta-TCP and silver nitrate. Moreover, the mean size and size distribution of silver nanoparticles also could be changed by using different stabilisers. The prepared silver/beta-TCP particle is a potential biomaterial to replace pure beta-TCP particle and utilise for coating material and other applications.