Nano-hydroxyapatite: A driving force for bone tissue engineering

Abstract

Bone is an amazing nanocomposite tissue made of both organic (primarily collagen) and inorganic (primarily nano-hydroxyapatite [n-HA]) elements. Bone grafting is a widely used surgical technique in dental and orthopedic surgeries to enhance bone regeneration. In view of the significant drawbacks of traditional treatments, nanomaterials offer new strategies for bone regeneration. The HA with the chemical formula of Ca10(OH)2(PO4)6 is very identical to the inorganic portion of bone. Due to its high stability and minimal solubility, it is often used in orthopedic and dental procedures. Currently, n-HA, which facilitates the growth of new bone, has garnered considerable attention because of better bioactivity and bone integration ability when compared to porous HA. This review gives comprehensive insights related to n-HA structure, chemical composition, surface modification techniques, and their application in bone tissue engineering.

Keywords

• bio-ceramics
• biomaterials
• bone grafts
• materials
• nano-hydroxyapatite
• tissue engineering