Calcium orthophosphates (CaPO₄): Occurrence and properties

The present overview is intended to point the readers' attention to the important subject of calcium orthophosphates (CaPO₄). 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 (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 CaPO₄, while dental caries (tooth decay) and osteoporosis (a low bone mass with microarchitectural changes) 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 hydrogenorthophosphates. Due to the compositional similarities to the calcified tissues of mammals, CaPO₄ are widely used as biomaterials for bone grafting purposes. In addition, CaPO₄ have many other applications. Thus, there is a great significance of CaPO₄ for the humankind and, in this paper, an overview on the current knowledge on this subject is provided.