Abstract

Crystalline fluorapatite-coated hydroxyapatite (FA-HA) is studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and EDX analysis mapping (EDXM). Fluoridated HA (fluorapatite) was prepared by reacting resorbable synthetic HA (OsteoGen, Impladent, Ltd, Holliswood, NY) with 4.3% sodium fluoride (NaF) for 2 minutes. After washing and drying, the resultant powder was subjected to physical property analysis using the methods listed above. SEM showed little evidence of surface change. Changes, if any, consisted of a slightly more distinct crystalline clarity on the surface of the FA sample. XD patterns showed significant random noise dispersion of the untreated HA sample compared with the lack of noise patterns in the treated FA sample. Characteristic monetite peaks were noted in analysis of the nontreated HA control sample, whereas there was no evidence of monetite in XD analysis of the treated FA material. It was determined that the fluoridation reaction, as described, served as a purification procedure of the initial HA reagent to eliminate a more soluble monetite contaminant. Also, the reaction of fluoride ion with surface HA (whether it be from or a combination of dissolution-reapposition or isomorphic substitution) produces a more purified, crystalline FA sample that was characterized by a more characteristic and sharp XD pattern. EDX analysis of the FA sample revealed a fluoride peak at 0.70 KeV that was not seen in the nonfluoridated control. EDX mapping showed an evenly distributed needle-like crystalline-shaped particulate pattern over the entire surface of the FA sample, which was lacking in the HA control. From a variety of analytic methods (as described), it was concluded that reaction of synthetic resorbable HA with 4.3% NaF solution at neutral pH produces FA-coated HA.