Biological control of apatite growth in simulated body fluid and human blood serum.

The surface transformation reactions of bioactive ceramics were studied in vitro in standard K9-SBF solution and in human blood serum (HBS)-containing simulated body fluid (SBF). The calcium phosphate ceramics used for this study were stoichiometric hydroxyapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and brushite. Immersion of each calcium phosphate tested in this study, in simulated body fluid, led to immediate surface precipitation of apatite. The use of HBS resulted in a delay in the onset of precipitation and a significant inhibition of the dissolution reaction normally observed for brushite in solution. However, apatite formation still occurred. The use of HBS and SBF in this investigation, which has shown the ability to induce similar crystal growth as that observed in vivo, suggests that there is scope for the use of serum proteins in simulated body fluid in order to create a protein-rich surface coating on biomedical substrates.