Abstract
Multifunctional porous biological hydroxyapatite (b-Hap) tablets prepared from fine bone powder (FBP) are predicted to be useful as a calcium supplement and at the same time as low-dose drug carriers. FBP was hydrothermally extracted, then mechanically compressed and sintered without using chemical additives to prepare the porous b-Hap tablets. The properties of FBP and b-Hap tablets were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, mechanical, and porosity tests. Moreover, an aqueous drug solution of atenolol was used to evaluate release behavior from porous b-Hap tablets. The prepared FBP exhibited microstructures with grain sizes of about 50 to 100 mu m while b-Hap tablets sintered at 800 degrees C exhibited high porosity (55%) and compression strength of 8.5 MPa. When the atenolol-loaded b-Hap tablets were immersed in the acidic medium, the release of atenolol from the tablets continued for 120 min with complete dissolution of the b-Hap tablets. These results indicate that the porous b-Hap tablets are promised as an economic calcium supplement and as low-dose drug carriers.