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Bone mineral: new insights into its chemical composition
Stanislas Von Euw1,2, Yan Wang1, Guillaume Laurent1
1Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Collège de France, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (LCMCP), 4, place Jussieu, F-75005, Paris, France.
Scientific Reports
|June 13, 2019
Summary
Mature bone mineral surfaces are not hydroxyapatite but hydrated amorphous calcium phosphate. This amorphous layer is rich in hydrogen phosphate ions (HPO₄²⁻), significantly altering our understanding of bone structure and interfaces.
Area of Science:
- Biomineralization
- Bone Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Mature bone mineral is traditionally described as carbonated hydroxyapatite.
- Previous models suggested limited hydrogen phosphate (HPO₄²⁻) ions within the hydroxyapatite lattice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To revise the description of mature bone mineral particle composition and structure.
- To investigate the role and location of hydrogen phosphate (HPO₄²⁻) ions in bone mineral.
Main Methods:
- Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
- Analysis of hydrogen-bearing species and HPO₄²⁻ ions in bone mineral.
Main Results:
- Bone mineral particle surfaces are composed of hydrated amorphous calcium phosphate, not hydroxyapatite.
- Hydrogen phosphate (HPO₄²⁻) ions are concentrated in the amorphous surface layer (approx. 0.8 nm thickness).
- HPO₄²⁻ ions constitute approximately 50% of the inorganic phosphate in bone mineral, a higher proportion than previously estimated.
Conclusions:
- The surface of mature bone mineral is a hydrated amorphous calcium phosphate layer.
- Bone mineral-mineral and mineral-biomolecule interfaces are driven by HPO₄²⁻-rich amorphous environments, not crystalline hydroxyapatite.
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