Hydroxyapatites enriched in silicon – Bioceramic materials for biomedicaland pharmaceutical applications

Hydroxyapatites enriched in silicon-Bioceramic materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications

Hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, abbreviated as HA) plays a crucial role in implantology, dentistry and bonesurgery. Due to its considerable similarity to the inorganic fraction of the mineralized tissues (bones, enameland dentin), it is used as component in many bone substitutes, coatings of metallic implants and dentalmaterials. Biomaterial engineering often takes advantage of HA capacity for partial ion substitution because theincorporation of different ions in the HA structure leads to materials with improved biological or physicochemicalproperties. The objective of the work is to provide an overview of current knowledge about apatitematerials substituted with silicon ions. Although the exact mechanism of action of silicon in the bone formationprocess has not been fully elucidated, research has shown beneficial effects of this element on bone matrixmineralization as well as on collagen type I synthesis and stabilization. The paper gives an account of thefunctions of silicon in bone tissue and outlines the present state of research on synthetic HA containing silicateions (Si-HA). Finally, methods of HA production as well as potential and actual applications of HA materialsmodified with silicon ions are discussed.