Growth rates calcium phosphates

Precipitation can occur if a water is supersaturated with respect to a solid phase however, if the growth of a thermodynamically stable phase is slow, a metastable phase may form. Disordered, amorphous phases such as ferric hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, and allophane are thermodynamically unstable with respect to crystalline phases nonetheless, these disordered phases are frequently found in nature. The rates of crystallization of these phases are strongly controlled by the presence of adsorbed ions on the surfaces of precipitates (99). Zawacki et al. (Chapter 32) present evidence that adsorption of alkaline earth ions greatly influences the formation and growth of calcium phosphates. While hydroxyapatite was the thermodynamically stable phase under the conditions studied by these authors, it is shown that several different metastable phases may form, depending upon the degree of supersaturation and the initiating surface phase. 

Coating of the already formed emulsion is accomplished by creating suspension conditions at the boundary of supersaturation of calcium and phosphate ions, and then controlling the rate of mineral precipitation via tiny and repeated excursions into the supersaturation range. These excursions can be made by smaU concentration or pH changes. A model for the seeded growth of calcium phosphate atop stable emulsion particles via ionic condensation at constant temperature was developed. 

Sodium carboxymethyl chitin and phosphoryl chitin had most evident influences on the crystallization of calcium phosphate from supersaturated solutions. They potently inhibited the growth of hydroxyapatite and retarded the rate of spontaneous calcium phosphate precipitation. These chitin derivatives were incorporated into the precipitate and influenced both the phase and morphology of the calcium phosphate formed (flaky precipitate resembling octacalcium phosphate instead of spherical clusters in the absence of polysaccharide) [175]. 

Calcium phosphate precipitation may also be involved in the fixation of phosphate fertilizer in soils. Studies of the uptake of phosphate on calcium carbonate surfaces at low phosphate concentrations typical of those in soils, reveal that the threshold concentration for the precipitation of the calcium phosphate phases from solution is considerably increased in the pH range 8.5 -9.0 (3). It was concluded that the presence of carbonate ion from the calcite inhibits the nucleation of calcium phosphate phases under these conditions. A recent study of the seeded crystal growth of calcite from metastable supersaturated solutions of calcium carbonate, has shown that the presence of orthophosphate ion at a concentration as low as 10-6 mol L" and a pH of 8.5 has a remarkable inhibiting influence on the rate of crystallization (4). A seeded growth study of the influence of carbonate on hydroxyapatite crystallization has also shown an appreciable inhibiting influence of carbonate ion.(5). 

Addition of compounds with appropriate functionality to serve as nucleation sites for calcium phosphate growth to polymers can potentially improve the biocompatibility of the latter and thus the long-term stability of implant devices (Drelich and Field, 2007). Zinc stearate was added to poly(ethylene) to form poly(ethylene)-stearate blends with increased surface porosity potentially able to improve mechanical stability of the implant through enhanced osseointegration, improved rates and quality of bone-implant fusion and enhanced soft tissue wound healing via stimulation of angiogenesis. While immersion of these blends in supersaturated calcium phosphate solutions triggered deposition of a porous layer, the deposition rate was very slow, around 100 nm/day. 

Bioactivity is determined by the ability of a material to invoke a crystallized carbonated apatite layer from a physiological fluid. Silica incorporation in HAp promotes early crystallization and a higher rate of osteoblastic cell proliferation on sintered materials. This response has not been isolated from the effects of different Ca/P ratio, surface area, and presence of other calcium phosphate phases (Best et al. 1997). Such comparative information on the influence of different substituent elements on the bioactivity still remains to be developed. In assessing the cell growth on apatites, it is... 

A further factor important in the control of phosphate levels by calcium phosphate precipitation is the rate of crystal growth. Ferguson et al. " showed that a rate law of the form... 

Bone canents are closely related to bone substitutes and are mostly derived from similar calcium phosphate materials. One cement is made from a paste of Ca3(P04)2 or Ca3(P04)2 + Ca(H2P04>2 + CaC03, in Na2HP04 solution, while another consists of a 1 1 mixture of Ca3(P04>2 and anhydrous CaHP04. Various setting rates, down to about 5 min, can be obtained. These cements are slowly converted to hydroxyapatite when placed in bone cavities moreover, they appear to encourage further bone growth [49-51]. 

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