Nanoscopic calcium phosphates: from bone substitution to gene transfer

Electrocrystallization of Calcium Phosphates

The interest in electrocrystallization of calcium phosphates (CaP) in general, and of hydroxyapatite (HAp) specifically, results from the promising industrial benefits, unique microstructures, and properties of the deposits produced by this process, and the possible similarity to bone mineralization in vivo. In this paper, our work on electrocrystallization of HAp and octacalcium phosphate (OCP...

Solubility of calcium phosphates.

Solubil ity is one of the most important properties of calcium phosphate salts. It is the solubil ity that determines the direction of many reactions that involve calcium phosphates such as dissolution, precipitation, hydrolysis, and phase transformation. Calcium phosphate solubil ity also plays a maior role in biological processes that involve formation and resorption ol' hard tissues as well ...

Ca2+ blinks: rapid nanoscopic store calcium signaling.

Luminal Ca(2+) in the endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum (ER/SR) plays an important role in regulating vital biological processes, including store-operated capacitative Ca(2+) entry, Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release, and ER/SR stress-mediated cell death. We report rapid and substantial decreases in luminal [Ca(2+)], called "Ca(2+) blinks," within nanometer-sized stores (the junctional cisterna...

Introduction to the Special Issue: Dental Chemistry of Calcium Phosphates

Biological and medical significance of calcium phosphates.

The inorganic part of hard tissues (bones and teeth) of mammals consists of calcium phosphate, mainly of apatitic structure. Similarly, most undesired calcifications (i.e. those appearing as a result of various diseases) of mammals also contain calcium phosphate. For example, atherosclerosis results in blood-vessel blockage caused by a solid composite of cholesterol with calcium phosphate. Dent...