Functional calcium phosphate composites in nanomedicine.
Calcium phosphate (CaP) materials have many peculiar and intriguing properties. In nature, CaP is found in nanostructured form embedded in a soft proteic matrix as the main mineral component of bones and teeth. The extraordinary stoichiometric flexibility, the different stabilities exhibited by its different forms as a function of pH and the highly dynamic nature of its surface ions, render CaP one of the most versatile materials for nanomedicine. This review summarizes some of the guidelines so far emerged for the synthesis of CaP composites in aqueous media that endow the material with tailored crystallinity, morphology, size, and functional properties. First, we introduce very briefly the areas of application of CaP within the nanomedicine field. Then through some selected examples, we review some synthetic routes where the presence of functional units (small templating molecules like surfactants, or oligomers and polymers) assists the synthesis and at the same time impart the functionality or the responsiveness desired for the end-application of the material. Finally, we illustrate two examples from our laboratory, where CaP is decorated by biologically active polymers or prepared within a thermo- and magneto-responsive hydrogel, respectively.
Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" and CSGI, University of Florence, Florence 50019, Italy.
Francesca
F
Ridi
Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" and CSGI, University of Florence, Florence 50019, Italy.
Ilaria
I
Meazzini
Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" and CSGI, University of Florence, Florence 50019, Italy.
Benedetta
B
Castroflorio
Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" and CSGI, University of Florence, Florence 50019, Italy.
Massimo
M
Bonini
Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" and CSGI, University of Florence, Florence 50019, Italy.
Debora
D
Berti
Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" and CSGI, University of Florence, Florence 50019, Italy. Electronic address: piero.baglioni@unifi.it.
Piero
P
Baglioni
D000178:Acrylamides; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D000178:Acrylamides; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D020100:Hydrogels; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C085085:poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid); D004247:DNA; D017886:Durapatite
Calcium phosphate; Functional nanocomposites; Hydroxyapatite; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Transfection