Serum Albumin Protein-Mediated Ultra-Fast Laser Synthesis of Calcium Phosphate Nanoceramic in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Ceramic nanoparticles are promising biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration, cell proliferation and as plasmid DNA delivery vector, because they bear outstanding properties of chemical similarity to the human mineral constituent, bioactivity, and are fairly easily bio-conjugated. Here we report on the synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles by laser ablation of hydroxyapatite target in deionized water and in aqueous solution of Serum Albumin protein. Laser ablation in deionized water results in the formation of large clusters composed by small nanoparticles, while in Serum Albumin protein solution a starting process of clusters disaggregation is observed. Stability and nanoparticle size-quenching effect is investigated by various methods such as electron microscopy zeta potential and dynamic light scattering. It is found that the presence of Serum Albumin protein in aqueous solution plays the role of size-regulating agent. The integrity of Serum Albumin protein after laser irradiation is assessed by means of UV-vis and FT- IR analysis. Further, the chemical structure and crystallinity of the hydroxyapatite colloidal solution is investigated by infrared spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction measurement and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction.