Oriented　hydroxyapatite　nanoclusters　were　achieved　by　reflux　method　in　the　presence　of　nonpoisonous　and　well　dissolved　surfactant　(potassium　polyoxyethylene　laurylether　phosphate,　MAEPK).　Transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　demonstrated　uniform　sizes　of　nanorods　arranged　in　parallel　to　each　other　along　the　c-axis　and　formed　partially　oriented　nanoclusters　in　the　presence　of　MAEPK.　The　sizes　of　each　nanoparticle　were　about　60-80　nm　in　length　and　20　nm　in　width.　MAEPK　had　an　important　impact　on　the　morphology　of　product　due　to　the　structure　of　surfactant　and　a　strong　electrostatic　interaction　between　ionized　MAEPK　and　Ca2+　ions.　The　regulating　formation　mechanism　of　hydroxyapatite　nanoclusters　by　MAEPK　may　extend　the　understanding　of　biomineralization　process　for　the　preparation　of　biomimetic　materials.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.