Amorphous structures represent about 20% of the 60 or so different mineral types formed by action of living organisms. These formations involve biopolymers. The solubility of three biopolymers, gelatin, chitosan, and casein, and their effects on the formation and transformation of amorphous calcium phosphate were studied. A phosphate solution was added at constant rate to a calcium solution under stirring; one of the solutions further contained one of the biopolymers. The precipitation kinetics was followed by measuring the pH of the calcium phosphate mixture. The precipitate was characterized with X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. Gelatin dissolved better in calcium solutions, chitosan in organic acids, and casein in alkalis. In the alkaline solution, amorphous calcium phosphate containing biopolymer is formed initially followed by hydrolysis to poorly crystalline apatite. These amorphous calcium phosphate biopolymer precipitates have potential for the treatment of bone defects and for the tooth remineralization.

Effects of biopolymers on the formation and transformation of amorphous calcium phosphate in aqueous system

244th National Meeting (2012)

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