Precipitation of carbonateapatite from a revised simulated body fluid in the presence of glucose.

Revised simulated body fluid (rSBF) was modified by the addition of glucose in a physiological amount. The influence of this compound on calcium phosphate crystallization from supersaturated solutions equal to 4 x rSBF ionic concentrations was studied under physiological conditions (solution pH=7.35-7.40, temperature 37.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C). The experiments were performed in both plastic vessels (fast-uncontrolled precipitation) and in a constant-composition double-diffusion (CCDD) device (slow precipitation under strictly controlled conditions). Solutions used had different concentrations of hydrogencarbonate ions and with or without Hepes buffer. Regardless of the experimental conditions chosen, glucose was found to have a negligible influence on calcium phosphate crystallization from rSBF, while hydrogencarbonate ions had a strong influence on the structure and chemical composition of the precipitates. (Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics 2003; 1: 200-7).