Nanostructured calcium phosphates for biomedical applications: novel synthesis and characterization

Substitution of calcium by 14% magnesium results in the formation of crystalline (∼20 μm) brushite platelets that remains stable at pH 7.5. Further substitution results in unique nanostructured spherical morphologies of brushite from which rosette shaped high specific surface area (∼200 m2/g) nanocrystals (∼80 nm) of β-TCMP phase can be grown. The novelty lies in the formation of stable phases of HAp, brushite and β-TCMP under physiological conditions making them potential candidates for use as carriers for non-viral gene delivery or more generally in biological systems. The resultant nanocrystalline phosphates have been characterized for their structure, morphology, thermal stability, and composition. Results of the in vitro transfection are also described.