Developments of calcium phosphate-based bone regenerating materials utilizing interfacial interactions between inorganic–organic substances

Abstract

Calcium phosphate-based bone regenerating materials were developed by utilizing interfacial interaction between inorganic–organic substances. Although apatitic calcium phosphates, hydroxyapatite (HAp) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), have unique affinity to organic substances, and utilization of the affinity requires appropriate surrounding conditions. The author and his colleagues control the surrounding conditions to realize porous HAp ceramics with high porosity, interconnectivity and compressive strength, composite membrane of β-TCP and polylactide-based biodegradable polymers for guided bone regeneration, and bone-like nanocomposite of HAp and type-I atelocollagen (HAp/Col). Electrostatic interactions between calcium phosphates and polymers in these composites were presented by reflection infrared spectra. They also examined in vitro and in vivo and demonstrate good bone regeneration properties. Particularly, the HAp/Col exhibits completely incorporation into bone remodeling process that is the first in the world for synthetic materials. Three of these materials are also commercialized and used in medical and dental fields and contribute to human health.