Effect of solution composition on morphological and structural features of carbonated calcium apatites.
The composition of enamel mineral corresponds to that of a calcium carbonato-apatite. For insight to be gained into the precipitation of carbonato-apatites having specific properties (crystal size, morphology, and carbonate incorporation into the crystal lattice), apatites were prepared at 80 degrees C in aqueous systems having various CO3 concentrations and pH values of around 7.5 or 10.5 (+/- 0.5). The various preparations had a wide range (0.005 to 0.19) of CO3/Ca molar ratios that bracket the ratios found in porcine enamel mineral at various developmental stages. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray diffraction analyses showed that the calcium apatites precipitating at neutral pH incorporated the carbonate into both the hydroxyl and phosphate ion sites in their lattices (A,B-types), whereas the preparations made at the alkaline pH (high OH-(-)CO3(2-)-competition) or in the presence of fluoride (F-(-)CO3(2-) competition) yielded only the B-type carbonato-apatite. It was also ascertained that the size and morphology of the carbonato-apatites, assessed by specific surface area determination and high-resolution electron microscopy, were highly dependent on the driving force for precipitation and the presence of regulators (CO3(2-) and F-) in solution. In neutral media, early precipitates were thin-ribbon in appearance, but grew into crystals having flattened-hexagonal cross-sections. In the presence of fluoride or in alkaline media, acicular apatite crystals, precipitated initially, grew into large rod-like carbonato-apatites having a symmetric-hexagonal cross-section. In both neutral and alkaline solutions, carbonate inhibited the growth of apatite crystals along their c axis, leading to the formation of bulkier crystals. The formation of carbonato-apatites at the neutral pH and their properties are consistent with observations made on enamel minerals formed in the early developmental stages.
Shimoda
S
S
Forsyth Dental Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Aoba
T
T
Moreno
E C
EC
Miake
Y
Y
D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000737:chemistry; D007474:Ion Exchange; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D001031:Apatites; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D012996:Solutions; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D005459:Fluorides