New bioactive bone-like microspheres with intrinsic magnetic properties obtained by bio-inspired mineralisation process

A bio-inspired mineralisation process was investigated and applied to develop novel hybrid magnetic materials by heterogeneous nucleation of Fe2+/Fe3+-doped hydroxyapatite nanocrystals onto a biopolymeric matrix made of a Type I collagen-based recombinant peptide (RCP). The effect of the synthesis temperature on the phase composition, crystallinity and magnetic properties of the nucleated inorganic phase was studied. The as-obtained magnetic materials were then engineered, by using a water-in-oil emulsification process, into hybrid magnetic microspheres, which were stabilized by de-hydrothermal treatment yielding cross-linking of the macromolecular matrix.