Importance of nucleation in transformation of octacalcium phosphate to hydroxyapatite

Natsuko Ito, Masanobu Kamitakahara, Masahiro Yoshimura, Koji Ioku

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) is regarded as an in vivo precursor of hydroxyapatite (HA). It is important to understand the mechanism of transformation of OCP to HA in order to reveal the mechanism of mineralization and help in the development of artificial bone-repairing materials. Herein, we have examined the behavior of OCP in a simulated body fluid (SBF) and pure water. The OCP particles immersed in the SBF at 37 °C did not transform to HA even after 720 h of immersion, though the particles showed crystal growth. In distilled water at 60 °C, the OCP particles transformed to HA but the unreactive period was observed. Although the immersed solution became supersaturated with HA within 12 h of immersion, the OCP was not transformed in the first 36 h of immersion. These results indicate that the nucleation of HA is the rate-determining step in the transformation of OCP to HA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)121-126
Number of pages6
JournalMaterials Science and Engineering C
Volume40
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Jul 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Medicine

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