A model study of the incorporation of vanadium in bone.

A study of mixed apatites of the type Ca10 (PO4)6-X( VO4 )X(OH)2 has been undertaken in order to obtain an insight into the structural consequences of the incorporation of vanadium in the inorganic phase of bone. The crystallographic analysis as well as the vibrational spectra of these "models," show that low or moderate VO43 - concentration does not produce any lattice distortion and has little effect on the strength of the P-O and O-H bonds. This study has also shown that the incorporation of VO43 - ions in the Ca10 (PO4)6(OH)2 matrix at low temperatures is only possible if the hydroxyapatite is in the amorphous state.