Multifunctional and hybrid systems based on calcium-phosphate and hydroxyapatite for preventive and regenerative medicine

Abstract

Thanks to its special caracteristics, such as relativly easy chemical modification of structure and surface, calciumphosphates (CaP) especially hydroxyapatite (HAp) is found widely used in various fields of biomedicine. Beside of the ease chemical modification, which includes metal doping, enhancement of properties of the HAp can be accomplished by combinations with various therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents. Materials base on CaP or HAp can be used in bone tissue engineering for reconstruction of bone damages as bone graft substitute as well as bone drug delivery systems. The improved properties of HAp were realized by doping with different elements (Co, Zn, Fe, Eu, Gd etc.). Synthesis, characterization and application of nanoparticulate multifunctional and hybrid materials based on CaP and HAp, is currently receiving tremendous attention. Multifunctional hybrid systems based on HAp could integrate medical preventive and regenerative potential in a single particle.

Keywords

• calciumphosphates
• hydroxyapatite
• preventive and regenerative medicine
• multifunctional
• hybrid
• nanomaterials