Self-assembling, hybrid hydroxyapatite-methylcellulose granules, modified with nano-silver

Abstract The modified wet chemical method and a simple freeze–thaw method were successfully employed to achieve hydroxapatite-methylocellulose based granules (HMC), modified with silver nanoparticles. According to our knowledge this is the first studies on hydroxyapatite-methylcellulose-based, self–assembling granules obtained via a freeze–thaw process. The developed hybrid granules possessed irregular shapes and sizes between 100 and 1000 µm can be obtained. FT-IR and XRD studies revealed that hybrids composed of B-type carbonated, calcium deficient hydroxyapatite and methylcellulose. The method allowed for introduction of silver in desired quantity (0.1 wt% and 0.9 wt%). SEM observations of materials showed that hydroxyapatite agglomerates were surrounded by a polymer. Additionally, agglomerates of silver were observed when commercially available Ag-nano-particles were applied and were not detected when AgNO3 was used as the source of silver.