Synthesis of whitlockite nanopowders with different magnesium content

Recently, synthetic magnesium whitlockite (Ca₁₈Mg₂(HPO₄)₂(PO₄)₁₂, WH) has received much attention for being used as a bone substitute. The present research explores the possibility of tailoring Ca to Mg ratio in WH structure material, which might subsequently affect its biological properties. A dissolution-precipitation synthesis of nanocrystalline WH samples was performed at 65 °C using brushite as a starting material in the presence of Mg²⁺ ions. The change in the stoichiometry of synthesized samples was reflected in the variation of lattice parameters: the decrement of crystallographic constants was attributed to the difference in ionic radius of Ca and Mg ions. The synthesized powders were characterized to determine the phase purity, crystallographic parameters, functional groups, and morphology under altered Ca to Mg molar ratios.