Electrohydrodynamic Print-Patterning of Nano-Hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite nano-particles have been synthesised by a precipitation reaction. These particles were then incorporated in a suspension containing ethanol as the liquid carrier. The suspension was subjected to flow in an electric field to generate a jet and, subsequently, droplets, which were deposited according to pre-determined topographies using a printing device. Thus, several nHA topographies have been generated and investigated using optical and scanning electron microscopy. In particular, nHA tracks down to 50 mu m in width have been prepared and this forming route offers the creation of nHA topographies to a high resolution not achieved by print-deposition techniques before.