Synthetic hydroxyrapatites incorporating small amounts of Si have shown improved biological performances in terms of enhanced bone apposition, bone in-growth and cell-mediated degradation. This paper reports a systematic investigation on Si-substituted hydroxyapatite (Si 1.40 wt%) nanopowders produced following two different conventional wet methodologies: (a) precipitation of Ca(NO(3))(2)center dot 4H(2)O and (b) titration of Ca(OH)(2). The influence of the synthesis process on composition, thermal behaviour and sinterability of the resulting nanopowders is studied. Samples were characterised by electron microscopy, induced coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, N(2) adsorption measurements, X-ray diffraction and dilatometry. Semicrystalline Si-substituted hydroxyapatite powders made up of needle-like nanoparticles were obtained, the specific surface area ranged between 84 and 110 m(2)/g. Pure and Si-substituted hydroxyapatite nanopowders derived from Ca(NO(3))(2)center dot 4H(2)O decomposed around 1000 C. Si-substituted hydroxyapatite nanopowders obtained from Ca(OH)2 were thermally stable up to 1200 degrees C and showed a distinct decreased thermal stability with respect to the homologous pure sample. Si-substituted hydroxyapatites exhibited higher sintering temperature and increased total shrinkage with respect to pure powders. NanostrUctured dense ceramics were obtained by sintering at 1100 C Si-substituted hydroxyapatites derived from Ca(OH)(2). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.