Modification of Apatite Materials for Bone Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery Carriers

Abstract

Apatite-related calcium phosphate, the main component of biological hard tissue, has good biocompatibility and is an economical material. Methods for the synthesis of apatite materials including hydroxyapatite (HAp) have previously been established. Therefore, for many years, apatite materials have been utilized as substitute materials for bone in orthopedic and dental fields. Such types of conventional substitute materials, which are implanted in the human body, should ostensibly be chemically stable to maintain their quality over time. However, recent advances in tissue engineering have altered this concept. Physicians and researchers now seek to identify materials that alter their properties temporally and spatially to achieve ideal tissue regeneration. In order to use apatite materials for tissue engineering and as drug delivery systems, the materials require both a high affinity for cells, tissues and/or functional molecules (e.g. growth factors and genes) and controllable bioabsorbability. To achieve these properties, various physicochemical modifications of apatite materials have been attempted. In addition, fabrication desiring three-dimensional structures (e.g. size, morphology and porosity) of apatite materials for implant sites could be one of the crucial techniques used to obtain ideal prognoses. In this review, the latest research trends relating to the techniques for the fabrication and modification of apatite materials are introduced.

Medical Application of Calcium Orthophosphate Bioceramics

“…Besides, a significantly higher osteoblast proliferation on HA bioceramics sintered at 1200 °C as compared to that on HA bioceramics sintered at 800 °C and 1000 °C was reported [702]. Thus, to meet the tissue engineering requirements, much attention is devoted to further improvements of calcium orthophosphate bioceramics [703]. From the chemical point of view, the developments include synthesis of novel ion-substituted calcium orthophosphates .…”

Biomaterials/Tissue Interactions: Possible Solutions to Overcome Foreign Body Response

“…artificial organs (1), biosensors (2-6), catheters (7), heart valves (8), and scaffolds for tissue engineering (9,10). Of particular significance to pharmaceutical sciences is the development of drug/implantable device combination products, e.g., drug-eluting stents (11) and glucose monitoring biosensors (4)(5)(6).…”

A Review of the Biocompatibility of Implantable Devices: Current Challenges to Overcome Foreign Body Response

“…Of particular significance is the progress that has been made in the areas of implantable devices and drug/device combination products, such as drug-eluting stents, [1][2][3][4][5] artificial organs, 6-9 biosensors, 10,11 catheters, 12 scaffolds for tissue engineering, [13][14][15] and heart valves. 16,17 Nevertheless, the biocompatibility of implantable devices remains a critical issue in limiting device longevity and functionality, particularly in the case of biosensors.…”