<Chapter 2> Biomimetic Porous Bone-Like Apatite Coatings on Metals, Organic Polymers and Microparticles

Abstract

When pH and temperature of simulated body fluid (SBF) are raised, fine particles of calcium phosphate are precipitated. Recently, the authors’ research group found that these fine particles were highly active to induce formation of porous bone-like apatite in SBF, or body fluid, and named them ‘apatite nuclei.’ By using apatite nuclei, the author successfully imparted high bioactivity, that is, apatite-forming ability, to various kinds of bioinert biomaterials such as metals and organic polymers in a series of recent studies. These materials spontaneously formed porous bone-like apatite layer on their surfaces in SBF in a short time and showed high bioactivity in vitro. In addition, thWe author also successfully fabricated microcapsules consisted of porous bone-like apatite by using apatite nuclei.