Abstract

• Hydroxyapatite (HAp) obtained from the chemical treatment (HCl and NaOH) and calcination at 900 ºC of fresh goat bone were incorporated with different amounts of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (5 % and 10 %) to give HAp-ZnO nanocomposites (20:1 and 20:2). These nanocomposites were indexed as hexagonal structure with equal length of a and b but shorter c. FT IR spectral data revealed the characteristic absorption peaks of , OH- and ZnO in HAp-ZnO nanocomposites. SEM images of HAp-ZnO nanocomposites were elongated crystalline structures with agglomeration of ZnO on the surface of HAp. The bulk density of the nanocomposites slightly increased and the porosity percentage decreased as the temperature and amount of zinc oxide increased. HAp and HAp-ZnO nanocomposites (20:1 and 20:2) prepared at 1000 oC showed no cytotoxic effect tested by brine shrimp assay. Orthopedic applications of HAp and HAp-ZnO nanocomposites were conducted by using Wistar rats. By X-ray diagnosis HAp-ZnO composites exhibited as a promising filler of bone defect. Histological findings showed that HAp-ZnO composites with ratio of 20:2 at 1000 °C group was found to be the best with the good scoring within 30 days after application.