Abstract
Fabrication of apatite-organic polymer hybrids is one of attractive methods for development of novel bone substitutes. Biomimetic process is reported to be a method that can produce such a hybrid by deposition of apatite on organic substrates under mimicking condition to body fluid. In this process, it is important to produce a suitable surface of organic substrates for induction of hetrogeneous nucleation of apatite. It has been revealed that carboxyl groups on organic polymer are effective for inducing heterogeneous nucleation of apatite in body environment. In the present study, ability of apatite deposition on natural and synthetic polyamide contained carboxyl groups was examined in 1.5SBF with inorganic ions 1.5 times that of simulated body fluid (SBF). Raw silk formed apatite on its surface in 1.5SBF within 7 days, whereas the others did not. These results indicate that the apatite formation is governed not only by contents of carboxyl groups, but also by three-dimensional structure of the polyamides.
