Inhibiting Action of Carbohydrates on the Growth of Fluorapatite Crystals

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) and fluorapatite (FAp) were synthesized in the presence of carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, galactose and sucrose). X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystallinity of two FAp groups that were synthesized in the presence of glucose or sucrose decreased with the increase in carbohydrate content. In SEM photographs we found that the size of their crystals was small and the shape changed. However, FAp groups that were snythesized in the presence of fructose or galactose showed little change in their crystallinity and shape. Four carbohydrates had some influence on size, but not on shape or crystallinity when synthesizing HAp. These results suggest that glucose and/or sucrose has a chemical affinity to FAp and inhibits the growth of FAp crystals.