Calcium orthophosphate bioceramics

Abstract

The present review is intended to point the readers' attention to the important subject of calcium orthophosphate bioceramics. Calcium orthophosphates by one-selves appear to be of a special significance for the human beings because they represent the inorganic part of calcified tissues of mammals. Therefore, many types of calcium orthophosphate-based bioceramics possess remarkable biocompatibility and bioactivity. Materials scientists extensively use this property in attempts to construct artificial bone grafts those are either entirely made of or only surface-coated by calcium orthophosphate bioceramics. Namely, self-setting calcium orthophosphate cements are very helpful in filling voids in damaged bones, while metallic implants covered by a surface layer of calcium orthophosphate bioceramics are widely used for hip joint endoprostheses and tooth substitutes. Porous bioceramic scaffolds made of calcium orthophosphates are very promising tools for tissue engineering applications. In this paper, an overview on the current knowledge on calcium orthophosphate bioceramics has been provided. © 2010 al-Farabi Kazakh National University.