Nanodimensional and Nanocrystalline Apatites and Other Calcium Orthophosphates in Biomedical Engineering, Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Recent developments in biomineralization have already demonstrated that nanosized particles play an important role in the formation of hard tissues of animals. Namely, the basic inorganic building blocks of bones and teeth of mammals are nanodimensional and nanocrystalline calcium orthophosphates (in the form of apatites) of a biological origin. In mammals, tens to hundreds nanocrystals of a biological apatite were found to be combined into self-assembled structures under the control of various bioorganic matrixes. In addition, the structures of both dental enamel and bones could be mimicked by an oriented aggregation of nanosized calcium orthophosphates, determined by the biomolecules. The application and prospective use of nanodimensional and nanocrystalline calcium orthophosphates for a clinical repair of damaged bones and teeth are also known. For example, a greater viability and a better proliferation of various types of cells were detected on smaller crystals of calcium orthophosphates. Thus, the nanodimensional and nanocrystalline forms of calcium orthophosphates have a great potential to revolutionize the field of hard tissue engineering starting from bone repair and augmentation to the controlled drug delivery devices. This paper reviews current state of knowledge and recent developments of this subject starting from the synthesis and characterization to biomedical and clinical applications. More to the point, this review provides possible directions of future research and development.

Morphology and electronic structure of nanoscale powders of calcium hydroxyapatite

“…It should be noted that the most rapid growth of crystals occurs in the temperature range of 600°C to 700°C [1][2][3]. The particle size of the apatite obtained by annealing at 700°C is 40 nm (Figure 3), corresponding to a particle size of apatite in native bone.…”

“…Bioactive materials based on calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 3 (OH) 2 , HAP), the chemical composition and structure of which approaches the mineral component of bones, are widely used in medical practice over the past 20 years. All the time, the researches continue to work for improvement of these materials [1][2][3][4].…”

“…All the time, the researches continue to work for improvement of these materials [1][2][3][4]. However, the prospect of their application may not be quite complete without clarifying the relationship of morphological, physical and chemical properties, and atomic architecture surfaces of these materials because biocompatibility is dependent not only on their chemical composition but also to a large extent on the morphology of the particles, which affect the interaction of mineral constituent of bones with the organic matrix.…”

Untitled

“…From the chemical point of view, the developments include synthesis of novel ion-substituted calcium orthophosphates . From the material point of view, the major research topics include nanodimensional and nanocrystalline structures [704][705][706][707][708], organic-inorganic biocomposites and hybrid biomaterials [316], fibers, whiskers and filaments [709][710][711][712][713][714][715][716][717][718][719][720][721][722], micro-and nano-sized spheres and beads [722][723][724][725][726][727][728][729][730][731][732][733][734][735][736][737], micro-and nano-sized tubes [738][739][740], porous 3D scaffolds made of ACP [462,598], TCP [432][433][434][435], HA [176,…”

Effect of Nano-Hydroxyapatite Graft on Socket Healing after Teeth Extraction

“…-Inorganic biomaterials based on calcium orthophosphate have their wide range of applications in medicine [1][2][3][4]. -Hydroxyapatite (HAp), chemical formula Ca5 (PO4)3OH, is considered the structural template for the mineral phase of bone, dentin and enamel.…”