Oriented　hydroxyapatite　nanoclusters　were　achieved　by　reflux　method　in　the　presence　of　non-poisonous　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.　©　2013　Elsevier　B.V.