title: Pathological calcification and replicating calcifying-nanoparticles: general approach and correlation.
abstract: Calcification, a phenomenon often regarded by pathologists little more than evidence of cell death, is becoming recognized to be important in the dynamics of a variety of diseases from which millions of beings suffer in all ages. In calcification, all that is needed for crystal formation to start is nidi (nuclei) and an environment of available dissolved components at or near saturation concentrations, along with the absence of inhibitors for crystal formation. Calcifying nanoparticles (CNP) are the first calcium phosphate mineral containing particles isolated from human blood and were detected in numerous pathologic calcification related diseases. Controversy and critical role of CNP as nidi and triggering factor in human pathologic calcification are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science [N.C., D.S.M.], National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, USA. nevaemail@gmail.com
authors.forename: Neva
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ciftçioğlu
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: McKay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001031:Apatites / Q000378:metabolism; D001681:Biological Assay; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D002130:Calcium Phosphates