Sol-gel combustion synthesis of merwinite and its biomedical applications

Abstract

The multidisciplinary attribute of biomaterials requires scientists to contrive and concoct the material, engineers to design and fabricate the prosthesis, and physicians to swot the response of natural tissues on artificial biomaterials implanted in the body. In this present experiment, energy efficient sol–gel combustion method has been adopted for the preparation of merwinite using citric acid as a reducing agent. Nitric acid played dual role as catalyst and oxidizer during gelation and combustion respectively. The XRD analysis confirmed that single phasic merwinite phase formation was achieved at 1000 °C without any secondary phase impurities. The bioactivity investigation of merwinite showed the deposition of hydroxyapatite on day three itself over the surface of the immersed scaffold in the physiological medium.