Bone resembling apatite by amorphous-to-crystalline transition driven self-organisation

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2008 Feb;19(2):753-9. doi: 10.1007/s10856-007-3085-7. Epub 2007 Jul 10.

Abstract

Calcium apatite is the main inorganic constituent of mammalian hard tissues such as bones and teeth. Its formation in vivo is likely to be preceded by a transient amorphous phase. If so, the amorphous-to-crystalline transition would have some crucial role in the biomineralisation process. To investigate this possibility, a two-step biomimetic experiment was designed. First, a stable amorphous calcium apatite precursor was synthesized in simulated body fluid (SBF) and was then transformed into a low crystalline apatite. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, vacuum FTIR, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N(2) adsorption measurements were used to characterise both the precursor and the apatite. The latter exhibits numerous bone-like features including lack of OH, nanometer size, low crystallinity, etc. An amorphous-to-crystalline transition driven self-organisation is observed. The amorphous precursor seems to be the essential step for the creation of bone resembling apatite.

MeSH terms

  • Apatites / chemistry*
  • Biomimetic Materials
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Bone and Bones*
  • Calcium / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Phosphorus / chemistry
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Apatites
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Phosphorus
  • Calcium