U.S.-Mexico Collaborative Research: Formation and Characterization of Calcium Hydroxyapatite Deposited on Silica Aerogels and Xerogels

这个美国-墨西哥奖项将支持北得克萨斯大学的Richard Reidy教授和Saltillo技术研究所的Oscar Mdoza Gonzalez教授与CINVESTAV-Queretaro的同事们在生物材料领域的共同合作。更具体地说，研究人员将重点研究二氧化硅干凝胶和气凝胶的结构和表面功能之间的关系，以及随后从模拟体液中生长在这些基质上的羟基磷灰石的生长机制、成分和形貌。利用小角中子散射、气体吸附、电子显微镜以及合作机构提供的一系列仪器和专业知识，这项研究合作的结果将被证明有助于开发具有许多潜在生物工程应用的廉价的生物活性或可吸收生物陶瓷材料。

0102797ReidyThis U.S.-Mexico award will support joint collaborative work between Prof. Richard Reidy of the University of North Texas and Prof. Oscar Mendoza Gonzalez of the Instituto Tecnologico de Saltillo together with colleagues at CINVESTAV-Queretaro, in the field of biomaterials. More specifically, the researchers will focus on the relationship between the structure and surface functionalities of silica xerogels and aerogels and the consequent growth mechanisms, compositions, and morphologies of hydroxyapatites grown on these substrates from simulated body fluids. Using small-angle neutron scattering, gas adsorption, electron microscopy, and a range of instrumentation and expertise available at the collaborating institutions, the results of this research collaboration should prove useful in the development of inexpensive bioactive or resorbable bioceramic materials with many potential bioengineering applications.