Functionalization of octacalcium phosphate for bone replacement

The role of foreign ions on the properties of octacalium phosphate, although investigated by a limited number of studies, has been addressed for some time now and has provided useful information to clarify the biomineralization processes of the hard tissues of vertebrates. On the other hand, the development of OCP functionalized with biological relevant ions, as well as with amino- and poly-amino acids, proteins, and drugs, with the aim to imbue the inorganic phase with specific properties and improve its biological performance, is a relatively young field. However, the growing interest toward the use of OCP as biomaterials for applications in the musculoskeletal system suggests a promising future for the development of researches in this field. Extension of the studies toward further functionalizing agents and enrichment of the characterization with in vitro and in vivo tests would give a considerable boost to the development of OCP-based biomaterials for local delivery of therapeutic agents.