Scientists have discovered a new type of bone repairing material that could be used to more precisely fix bone defects. The bioresponsive ceramic interacts with an enzyme found in blood to be absorbed into the body at a precise and predictable rate.
At the heart of this discovery is an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which is present in human serum and reacts with various phosphate esters to generate bone mineral known as hydroxyapatite.
The scientists mimicked this biological process using a simulated body fluid that contained the enzyme ALP. They placed four different salts in a simulated body fluid containing or lacking the enzyme ALP. The salts were calcium salts of methyl phosphate (CaMeP), ethyl phosphate (CaEtP), butyl phosphate (CaBuP) and dodecyl phosphate (CaDoP). The phosphate component of each of these salts has an alkyl group at its end — a chain composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms — of differing lengths.
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