Self-organization of hydroxyapatite nanorods through oriented attachment

The oriented attachment of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanorods was achieved through a hydrothermal treatment. The nanorods were arranged in order along the c-axis of the HAP. These formed ca. 3.5 slip-shaped pores between the rods. High-resolution transmission electron (HRTEM) also revealed that single crystals of HAP may grow in the [0 0 2] direction of the HAP structure. This work extends the understanding of the potential for using biomimetic principles to synthesize bone-like composite materials.