HYDROXYAPATITE NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIS AND THEIR TOXICITY ON LETTUCE (Lactuca sativa L.)

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite of nanometric size was synthesized through biological extraction from fish bones and by chemical precipitation. The materials synthesized were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential, electric conductivity, hydrodynamic size, X-ray diffraction, and solubility tests. The toxicity of the nanoparticles was evaluated in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The smallest and most homogenous particle size (89 to 99 nm) of ?-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) was obtained with the chemical precipitation method, with spherical and stable shapes. Through the biological procedure, irregular particles in shape and size were obtained. The nHAP in powder had very low solubility and a loss of the material of smaller size was observed in the drying process. The nHAP in solution did not have toxic effects in the germination of lettuce seeds.