Tetracalcium phosphate: Synthesis, properties and biomedical applications

Acta Biomater. 2010 Oct;6(10):3815-23. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2010.04.020. Epub 2010 May 21.

Abstract

Monoclinic tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP, Ca(4)(PO(4))(2)O), also known by the mineral name hilgenstockite, is formed in the (CaO-P(2)O(5)) system at temperatures>1300 degrees C. TTCP is the only calcium phosphate with a Ca/P ratio greater than hydroxyapatite (HA). It appears as a by-product in plasma-sprayed HA coatings and shows moderate reactivity and concurrent solubility when combined with acidic calcium phosphates such as dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA, monetite) or dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD, brushite). Therefore it is widely used in self-setting calcium phosphate bone cements, which form HA under physiological conditions. This paper aims to review the synthesis and properties of TTCP in biomaterials applications such as cements, sintered ceramics and coatings on implant metals.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials* / chemical synthesis
  • Biocompatible Materials* / chemistry
  • Bone Cements* / chemical synthesis
  • Bone Cements* / chemistry
  • Calcium Phosphates* / chemical synthesis
  • Calcium Phosphates* / chemistry
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / chemical synthesis
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / chemistry
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Hydroxyapatites / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polymers / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Bone Cements
  • Calcium Phosphates
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Hydroxyapatites
  • Polymers
  • tetracalcium phosphate