Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite Mediated by Amphiphilic Block Copolymer PS112-b-PAA38

The hierarchical hydroxyapatite (HAP), such as needle-shaped, spherical and flower-like, was successfully synthesized by a homogenous precipitation method with poly (styrene)-block-poly (acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA). The self-assembled “crew-cut” micelles of amphiphilic block copolymer were found to play an important role in directing the nucleation and growth of HAP crystals. The morphology, crystal phrase and chemical structure of HAP crystal were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractions (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) respectively.