THE EFFECT OF THE SUPERSATURATED SOLUTIONS CONTAINING HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF FLUORIDE ON SEEDED CRYSTAL GROWTH

고농도의 불소를 포함하는 과포화용액이 apatitic crystal growth에 미치는 영향

In biological systems, the mineral that forms hard tissue is of an apatitic nature, and hydroxyapatite($Ca_5OH(PO_4)_3$: HA) is generally considered as the prototype for such a mineral. Thus, the precipitation of HA, having biological implications, has been the subject of several investigations. Crystal growth studies using HA seeds in supersaturated solutions have enhanced our understanding of the process and mechanism involved in seeded crystal growth. From these studies, it has become apparent that the precipitation rate of HA onto the seed crystals depends on the various conditions, especially on the additives. The relation between the supersaturated solution containing fluoride and the process of HA crystal growth enhances the understanding of mechanism of HA crystal growth. Until recently, the studies have been on the crystal growth of enamel minerals and synthetic HA seeds in the supersaturated solution containing 1~2 ppm fluoride. The purpose of the present investigation is to study the effect that fluoride of high concentration has on the crystal growth kinetics of HA. In order to produce the composition found in the secretory enamel fluid, experimental solutions of 1mM Ca, 3mM P, and 100mM Tris as background electrolyte were used. Then this experimental solutions were added to 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 ppm fluoride. The effect of fluoride at high concentrations on the precipitation was examined in a bench-top crystal growth model adopting a miniaturized reaction column. Chemical analysis was employed for characterization of working solutions before and after the experimentation. Remarkable findings were : 1) the amount of crystal growth was gradually accelerated as the fluoride concentration increased until 6 ppm, but decreased in 8 and 10 ppm fluoride; 2) the amount of fluoride ion consumed in crystal formation was constant despite the increase in fluoride concentration.