Preparation of highly functional artificial bones using the properties of calcium phosphates

Abstract

Ceramics can not only be used to create tools for use in our daily life but also can contribute to the health of our body. As ceramics composed of calcium phosphates show a high biological affinity to bone tissue, they have been used for the repair and regeneration of bone. Although conventional sintered hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramics are both widely used, the ability of these materials to regenerate the bone is insufficient and their use remains limited. As calcium phosphate is an inorganic component of bone, highly functional artificial bones could be obtained if we made best use of the properties of calcium phosphates. This paper describes methods to improve the functionality of artificial bones based on calcium phosphates.