Physico-chemical properties of calcium phosphates

Calcium phosphates have important role in biological and pathological mineralization. While only one of calcium phosphates, carbonate apatite, represents the main mineral component of teeth and bones, octacalcium phosphate, calcium hydrogenphosphate dihydrate and beta-tricalcium phosphate occur in pathological deposits. From the stand-point of chemists, processes of biological and pathological mineralization could be considered as deposition of inorganic phase within organic matrix, i.e. formation of inorganic-organic composites. Although this approach is very simplified at first glance, it allows clarification of important issues related to biomineralization (e.g. what is the role of individual components of organic matrix in the emerging solid tissue), and design and preparation of new materials for hard tissue regeneration (e.g. process of transformation after implantation). The importance of investigation about calcium phosphates will be presented through the overview of basic physico-chemical reactions related to the formation and transformation of biologically relevant calcium phosphates and their interaction with various organic additives in the laboratory