Preparation of bone-like apatite-collagen nanocomposites by a biomimetic process with phosphorylated collagen

By imitating in vivo bone mineralization, bone-like apatite-collagen nanocomposites were prepared by chemical phosphorylation of collagen and subsequent biomimetic growth of bone-like nanoapatite on collagen nanofibers. Two steps were employed in the composites preparation. First, the collagen was phosphorylated by chemical treatment, which provides the nucleation sites for bone-like apatite mineralization. The subsequent growth of bone-like nanoapatite on the phosphorylated collagen nanofibers was performed in simulated body fluid (SBF). The characterization of the composites showed that the composites were composed of nanoapatite mineralized collagen nanofibers that exhibit similarity to natural bone in composition and crystal morphology. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.