Inorganic-Salt Coprecipitation Synthesis, Fluoride-Doping, Bioactivity and Physiological pH Buffering Evaluations of Bredigite

Bredigite (Ca7MgSi4O16), with suitable bioactivity, biodegradation, biocompatibility and mechanical properties, is a promising candidate for the repair and regeneration of damaged bone tissues. In this research, for the first time, bredigite was synthesized by a facile and inexpensive coprecipitation method using inorganic salt precursors, followed by calcination at 1200° C. Additionally, 0.5 mol% fluoride was successfully doped into the structure without the formation of any second phases. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of single-phase orthorhombic bredigite in the samples and the incorporation of fluoride in the doped sample, respectively. Both the undoped and doped samples exhibited apatite-formation ability in terms of the precipitation of hydroxycarbonate apatite when exposed to a simulated physiochemical medium, with an increase in this characteristic as a result of fluoride doping. The addition of fluoride also lowered and buffered the pH value of the medium, where the enhancement of this parameter is due to the fast bioresorption of bredigite affecting disadvantageously biocompatibility.