FRANCO, P. Q.; SILVA, J.C.    BORGES, J.P.. Produção de fibras de hidroxiapatite por electrofiação. []. , 22, 1-2, pp.57-64. ISSN 0870-8312.

This paper reports a new method of producing hydroxyapatite (HA) fibres, combining electrospinning and a non-alcoxide sol-gel system, using cheap precursors. Phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O) were used as precursors of phosphorus and calcium, respectively. The fibres were electrospun from a mixture of the gel formed from the system Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O/P₂O₅ with polymeric solutions of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in water and ethanol/water mixtures. The fibres were analyzed for their morphology (Scanning Electron Microscopy, SEM), chemical composition (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, FTIR) and structure (X-ray diffraction, XRD). Nano and microfibres were obtained, composed mainly of type B carbonated HA with traces of calcium oxide (CaO) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). From SEM analysis it was found that higher concentration of PVP in the electrospinning solutions leads to the formation of cylindrical fibres and that a larger amount of water allows for smaller diameter fibres and narrow diameters distribution. HA fibres produced have potential use either in Biotechnology (eg. Ion-exchange membranes) and Biomedicine (eg. Scaffolds for Tissue Engineeering).

: Hydroxyapatite; Sol-gel; Electrospinning; Microfibres; Nanofibres.

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