Transformation of amorphous calcium phosphate to bone-like apatite
Journal article, 2018

Mineralisation of calcium phosphates in bone has been proposed to proceed via an initial amorphous precursor phase which transforms into nanocrystalline, carbonated hydroxyapatite. While calcium phosphates have been under intense investigation, the exact steps during the crystallisation of spherical amorphous particles to platelet-like bone apatite are unclear. Herein, we demonstrate a detailed transformation mechanism of amorphous calcium phosphate spherical particles to apatite platelet-like crystals, within the confined nanodomains of a bone-inspired nanocomposite. The transformation is initiated under the presence of humidity, where nanocrystalline areas are formed and crystallisation advances via migration of nanometre sized clusters by forming steps at the growth front. We propose that such transformation is a possible crystallisation mechanism and is characteristic of calcium phosphates from a thermodynamic perspective and might be unrelated to the environment. Our observations provide insight into a crucial but unclear stage in bone mineralisation, the origins of the nanostructured, platelet-like bone apatite crystals.

Author

Antiope Lotsari

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Anand Kumar Rajasekharan

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Mats Halvarsson

Chalmers, Physics, Materials Microstructure

Martin Andersson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Nature Communications

2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)

Vol. 9 1 4170

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Materials Science

Subject Categories

Ceramics

Materials Chemistry

Biomaterials Science

Medical Materials

Infrastructure

Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory

DOI

10.1038/s41467-018-06570-x

PubMed

30302020

More information

Latest update

4/5/2022 6