Apatite Nucleation on Low Porosity Silicon in Acellular Simulated Body Fluids

The response of a range of porous Si films to acellular simulated body fluids has been monitored by SEM, EDX and FTIR analyses. Quite low levels of porosity are shown here to induce hydroxyapatite growth both on top of the film, and even on neighbouring areas of bulk Si, which in isolation have no such effect. The in-vitro demonstration of hydroxyapatite nucleation by a porous semiconductor could provide further insight into the phenomenon of bioactivity and help realise a broader range of bioactive materials.