Evaluation of calcium titanate as apatite growth promoter.

Calcium titanate (CaTiO(3), perovskite) has been used to determine its apatite nucleation ability and propose a possible nucleation initial step. Measurements of calcium leaching from the calcium titanate surface and phosphate adsorption experiments were carried out separately by using commercial calcium titanate suspensions at room temperature. Adsorption behaviour determined by zeta potential measurements shows that phosphate is strongly adsorbed on the calcium titanate surface. It was found that the higher the pH, the higher the Ca present on the calcium titanate surface, but phosphate adsorption followed this trend only up to pH 7.4. Results suggest that phosphate ions are not adsorbed only on Ca sites but also on TiO(2) groups sites of the surface, formed after calcium leaching from the surface. When both ions are simultaneously added in a modified simulated body fluid containing calcium titanate, at 37 degrees C, apatite growth occurs on its surface after 1 week of immersion.