Abstract :
The present overview is intended to point
the readers’ attention to the important subject of
calcium orthophosphates. This type of materials is of
the special significance for the human beings because
they represent the inorganic part of major normal
(bones, teeth and antlers) and pathological (i.e. those
appearing due to various diseases) calcified tissues of
mammals. For example, atherosclerosis results in
blood vessel blockage caused by a solid composite of
cholesterol with calcium orthophosphates. Dental caries
and osteoporosis mean a partial decalcification of
teeth and bones respectively that results in replacement
of a less soluble and harder biological apatite by
more soluble and softer calcium hydrogenphosphates.
Therefore, the processes of both normal and pathological
calcifications are just an in vivo crystallization
of calcium orthophosphates. Similarly, dental caries
and osteoporosis might be considered as in vivo
dissolution of calcium orthophosphates. Conversely,
due to a great chemical similarity with the biological
calcified tissues, many calcium orthophosphates possess
remarkable biocompatibility and bioactivity.
Materials scientists extensively use this property to
construct artificial bone grafts that are either entirely
made of or only surface-coated by the biologically
relevant calcium orthophosphates. For example, selfsetting
hydraulic cements made of calcium orthophosphates
are helpful in bone repair, while titanium
substitutes covered by a surface layer of calcium
orthophosphates are used for hip joint endoprostheses
and tooth substitutes. Porous scaffolds made of calcium
orthophosphates are very promising tools for tissue
engineering applications. In addition, calcium orthophosphates
of a technical grade are very popular
mineral fertilizers. There is a great significance of
calcium orthophosphates for the humankind and, in
this paper, an overview on the current knowledge on
this subject is provided. To assist and guide the readers,
a great number of references to the related publications
detalizing various specific aspects of the matter
has been collected
