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 μm 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.