Palati Sinduja, Ganapathy Dhanraj, Sekaran Saravanan
Reader, Department of Oral Pathology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, Tamil Nadu, India.
Professor and Head, Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, Tamil Nadu, India.
J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2025 Nov-Dec;15(6):1176-1182. doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.08.002. Epub 2025 Aug 6.
Whitlockite (WH), a magnesium-enriched calcium phosphate mineral, is emerging as a promising biomaterial in bone tissue engineering due to its chemical similarity to natural bone and dual role in promoting osteogenesis and regulating bone resorption. Compared to conventional materials like hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), WH offers higher solubility, superior ion release (notably Mg), and enhanced bioactivity.
This systematic review evaluates the in vivo efficacy of WH-based biomaterials in bone regeneration. Key outcomes include bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), osteogenic marker expression, and histological bone quality.
A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central was conducted up to March 2025. Eligible studies assessed WH-based materials in animal bone defect models with quantifiable regenerative outcomes. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and quality assessment using the SYRCLE Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analysis was not feasible due to significant heterogeneity across models, scaffold types, and endpoints.
Seventeen animal studies (rats, mice, rabbits) met inclusion criteria. WH was used in forms such as nanoparticles, granules, and scaffolds with polymers like chitosan and gelatin. WH consistently outperformed HA and β-TCP with up to a 2-6 % increase in BV/TV, BMD, and histological bone formation. Upregulation of ALP, OCN, RUNX2, and COL1 was observed. Doped WH variants and composites enhanced osteoinductive and angiogenic responses. No adverse effects were reported.
WH demonstrates superior osteogenic and biocompatible properties over traditional calcium phosphates. Future standardized, long-term studies are needed to support clinical translation for orthopedic and dental bone regeneration.
白磷钙矿（WH）是一种富含镁的磷酸钙矿物，由于其与天然骨的化学相似性以及在促进成骨和调节骨吸收方面的双重作用，正成为骨组织工程中一种有前景的生物材料。与羟基磷灰石（HA）和β-磷酸三钙（β-TCP）等传统材料相比，WH具有更高的溶解度、更优异的离子释放（尤其是镁离子）以及更强的生物活性。
本系统评价评估了基于WH的生物材料在骨再生中的体内疗效。关键结果包括骨体积分数（BV/TV）、骨密度（BMD）、成骨标志物表达以及组织学骨质量。
截至2025年3月，对PubMed、科学网、谷歌学术和考克兰中心进行了全面检索。符合条件的研究在具有可量化再生结果的动物骨缺损模型中评估了基于WH的材料。两名评价者使用SYRCLE偏倚风险工具独立进行数据提取和质量评估。由于模型、支架类型和终点存在显著异质性，无法进行荟萃分析。
17项动物研究（大鼠、小鼠、兔子）符合纳入标准。WH以纳米颗粒、颗粒以及与壳聚糖和明胶等聚合物制成的支架等形式使用。与HA和β-TCP相比，WH始终表现更优，BV/TV、BMD和组织学骨形成增加高达2%-6%。观察到碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、骨钙素（OCN）、RUNX2和I型胶原（COL1）上调。掺杂的WH变体和复合材料增强了骨诱导和血管生成反应。未报告不良反应。
与传统磷酸钙相比，WH表现出更优异的成骨和生物相容性特性。未来需要进行标准化的长期研究，以支持其在骨科和牙科骨再生中的临床转化。
