A new polyphosphate calcium material with morphogenetic activity

• Polyphosphate [polyP] causes morphogenetic activity if added to bone cells (osteoblasts) in vitro.
• A calcium-polyP [Ca-polyP] complex has been fabricated that is amorphous and has a hardness of ≈1.3 GPa.
• The spherical nanoparticles have a diameter of ≈0.2 µm.
• This Ca-polyP is biologically active; it causes induction of the gene alkaline phosphatase.
• The Ca-polyP granules are hydrolytically degraded during in vitro incubation with cells.

Polyphosphate [polyP] has been proven to elicit morphogenetic activity on bone cells. By applying mild reaction conditions, a Ca-polyP material that displays a hardness of ≈1.3 GPa has been fabricated. The Ca-polyP granules are prone to hydrolytic degradation during in vitro incubation of the cells, suggesting that this property is associated with the observed bioactivity.

Polyphosphate [polyP] has been proven to elicit morphogenetic activity on bone cells. We describe the preparation of amorphous, solid Ca-polyP that has a spherical morphology. This material is biologically active and induces the marker gene of osteoblast formation, the alkaline phosphatase.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide