ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Enhanced bioactivity and morphological evolution of erbium-doped hydroxyapatite synthesized in simulated body fluid using trilaurin: a comprehensive physicochemical and in vitro evaluation

E. Sathya, K. Sasikumar, M. Theanmozhi, J. Indira, and V. Collins Arun Prakash

PG & Research Department of Chemistry, Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Tirupattur, Affiliated to Thiruvalluvar University, Serkkadu, India

E-mail: sathyavichu2016@gmail.com

Received: 26 September 2025  Accepted: 8 December 2025

Abstract:

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is an inorganic mineral component which exhibits excellent bioactive, biocompatible, and bioresorbable properties. Erbium (Er)-doped hydroxyapatite was synthesized via a microwave method using Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) as a solvent in order to mimic the ionic concentration of human blood plasma at a constant pH of 7.2. The organic modifier trilaurin (TL) was used to induce morphological changes and tune the properties of the hydroxyapatite. The prepared samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which confirmed the characteristic vibrational modes of HAp, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the crystallite size. High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope (HR-SEM) technique used to elucidate the surface morphology of the synthesised hydroxyapatite. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis confirms the presence of erbium metal. Brauner–Emmett–Teller (BET) studies determines the pore size distribution and surface area. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the HAP, Er³⁺ doped HAP were studied by TGA-DTA technique. In vitro bioactivity studies (MTT assay, Live dead assay, ALP activity) using the osteoblast cell line (MG-63) confirmed the non-toxic nature of the synthesized nanomaterials. In brief, the Er-HAp/TL/SBF biocomposite is an ideal candidate for efficient bone repair in clinical settings, exhibiting excellent osteoconductive properties.

Keywords: Erbium; Hydroxyapatite; Simulated body fluid; Trilaurin; Microwave; Cell adhesion; Biocompatibility of additives

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04589-1

Chemical Papers 80 (5) 4829–4845 (2026)