digilib@itb.ac.id +62 812 2508 8800

Water molecules are known to play crucial roles both in theformation and biological function of materials. Herein, we show the presenceof“intermediate water”on an inorganic solid material, hydroxyapatite.In vitroexperiments revealed that Mg substitution of apatite significantly enriched theamount of intermediate water, possibly due to the proton transfer to ahydrogen-bonded network of water around HPO42?on divalent-cation-deficient apatite surfaces. The intermediate water formation related to amarkedly suppressed protein adsorption on apatite. Analysis of bone apatitessuggested that the intermediate water on minerals could play crucial roles in regulating crystal growth.