eCM (Eur Cell Mater / e Cells & Materials) eCM Open Access Scientific Journal
 ISSN:1473-2262         NLM:100973416 (link)         DOI:10.22203/eCM

2001   Volume No 2 - pages 36-48

Title: Structure and Substitutions in Fluorapatite

Authors: N. Leroy and E. Bres

Address: CNRS ESA 8008, LSPES, USTL, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France

E-mail: Nathalie.Leroy at univ-lille1.fr

Key Words: Apatite structure, space group, point group, substitution, fluoride.

Publication date: 30th November 2001

Abstract: Fluorapatite, Ca10(PO4)6F2. is a widely spread form of calcium phosphate present particularly in biological material. Human hard tissues contain crystals structurally related to apatite. Fluoride can be found in various natural sources and is also used for its beneficial action in caries prevention. Fluorapatite belongs to the spatial group P63/m (C6h2) and consists of 3 ions: F-, Ca2+, PO43-. In the present paper, we have carried out a crystallographic study of the fluorapatite structure and of the changes induced by the substitutions. The fluorapatite structure and the presence of a large number of ionic bonds make fluorapatite a very suitable host for many substitutents, some of them harmless for the human organism, some not. According to the substitution site, we can describe four types of substitution. The F- substitution, also called Type A substitution, is the main one, and the best known. Only the Ca2+ substitution implies changes in the crystal structure. However, some questions remain, in particular for the PO43- substitution, which is the main substitution present in the biological calcium phosphates.

Article download: Pages 1-11 (PDF file)
DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v002a05