Zeta Potential of Silica Calcium Phosphate Nanocomposite: Effect of Material Composition and Medium pH

Biodegradable ceramics have lately found exciting applications in orthopedic and maxillofacial surgeries as agents for bone repair, drug delivery vehicles and filling materials. A novel bioactive resorbable ceramic that demonstrated a superior mechanical properties, bioactivity and resorbability compared to traditional calcium phosphate ceramics or bioactive glass is bioactive silica-calcium phosphate nanocomposite (SCPC) [1, 2]. Previous studies have demonstrated that the enhanced bioactivity of SCPC is attributed to its nano structure as well as other physicochemical properties of the material [2]. Surface charge is one of the most important factors that control tissue and cell response to the implant material. Additionally, surface charge enhances the adsorption of biological molecules onto the material surface. The objective of the present work is to investigate the effect of SCPC composition and medium pH on the zeta potential and conductance of the material.