Dendrimer-based hydroxyapatite composites with remarkable materials properties

Poly(propylene imine) dendrimer functionalized with long alkyl chains is an amphiphilic molecule that forms well-defined aggregates when mixed with single-chain surfactants. Thus, the surface chemistry and the morphology of these aggregates can be varied by the choice of surfactant. The success of these dendrimer/surfactant complexes in templating the formation of calcium carbonates prompted to explore their capability to control the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) composites. This paper describes the formation of a HAP composite that, incontrast to other synthetic composite materials, shows plastic deformation while retaining a high stiffness.