Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 January 2016
A reverse micro-emulsion method has been investigated to control crystalmorphology in a nanometer region and to increase specific surface area forcalcium phosphate. The nanocrystals with the control of its morphology is acandidate of drug delivery carriers. This study investigated the effects ofmixing volume ratios of two surfactants, tween80 (T) and aliquate 336 (A) inkerosene as an oil phase, and pH values in the nano-region on crystalline phasesand specific surface area of calcium phosphate synthesized by the reversemicro-emulsion method. A di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate solution includingphosphoric acid at pH of 6.3 and a calcium nitrate solution at pH of 5.7 wereadjusted, and both the solutions were separately added into the kerosene withthe surfactants. Both the emulsions were then mixed at the same volume and theCa/P ratio of 1.0, and stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The crystallinephases were dependent on the T amounts; pure DCPD with the specific surface areaof 6.7 to 12 m2/g was obtained at the T/A ratio of 4, the mixture ofDCPD and DCPA with that of 48 to 162 m2/g was at the ratios of 5 to8, and a low crystalline HAp with 163 m2/g was at the ratio of 9.These specific surface areas of DCPD (T/A=4) and HAp (T/A=9)were apparently higher than those prepared with a wet method, 7.8 times and 1.8times respectively. DCPA with 43 m2/g was successfully produced todecrease the pH of phosphate solution at T/A of 9. The change of crystallinephases would be explained as follows; the increase of T amount decreased themicro-emulsion sizes to reduce bulk water to be DCPA, and increased the pH toprecipitate HAp nanocrystals.