Biomimetic Nanoceramics in Clinical Use -- Contents -- Chapter 1 Biological Apatites in Bone and Teeth -- 1.1 Hard-Tissue Biomineralisation: How Nature Works -- 1.1.1 Bone Formation -- 1.1.2 A Discussion on Biomineralisation -- 1.1.3 Biomineralisation Processes -- 1.1.4 Biominerals -- 1.1.5 Inorganic Components: Composition and Most Frequent Structures -- 1.1.6 Organic Components: Vesicles and Polymer Matrices -- 1.2 Alternatives to Obtain Nanosized Calcium-Deficient Carbonate-Hydroxy-Apatites -- 1.2.1 The Synthetic Route -- 1.2.2 The Biomimetic Process -- References -- Chapter 2 Synthetic Nanoapatites -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.1.1 General Remarks on the Reactivity of Solids -- 2.1.2 Objectives and Preparation Strategies -- 2.2 Synthesis Methods -- 2.2.1 Synthesis of Apatites by the Ceramic Method -- 2.2.2 Synthesis of Apatites by Wet Route Methods -- 2.2.3 Synthesis of Apatites by Aerosol Processes -- 2.2.4 Other Methods Based on Precipitation from Aqueous Solutions -- 2.2.5 Apatites in the Absence of Gravity -- 2.2.6 Carbonate Apatites -- 2.2.7 Silica as a Component in Apatite Precursor Ceramic Materials -- 2.2.8 Apatite Coatings -- 2.2.9 Precursors to Obtain Apatites -- 2.2.10 Additional Synthesis Methods -- 2.2.11 Sintered Apatites -- References -- Chapter 3 Biomimetic Nanoapatites on Bioceramics -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.1.1 Biomimetic Nanoapatites and Bioactive Ceramics -- 3.1.2 Biomimetic Nanoapatites on Nonceramic Biomaterials. Two Examples: Polyactive® and Titanium Alloys -- 3.1.3 Significance of Biomimetic Nanoapatite Growth on Bioceramic Implants -- 3.2 Simulated Physiological Solutions for Biomimetic Procedures -- 3.3 Biomimetic Crystallisation Methods -- 3.4 Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics for Biomimetic Crystallisation of Nanoapatites. General Remarks -- 3.4.1 Bone-Tissue Response to Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics.

3.4.2 Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics and Biological Environment. Interfacial Events -- 3.4.3 Physical-Chemical Events in CaP Bioceramics during the Biomimetic Process -- 3.5 Biomimetic Nanoceramics on Hydroxyapatite and Advanced Apatite-Derived Bioceramics -- 3.5.1 Hydroxyapatite, Oxyhydroxyapatite and Ca-Deficient Hydroxyapatite -- 3.5.2 Silicon-Substituted Apatites -- 3.6 Biphasic Calcium Phosphates (BCPs) -- 3.6.1 An Introduction to BCPs -- 3.6.2 Biomimetic Nanoceramics on BCP Biomaterials -- 3.7 Biomimetic Nanoceramics on Bioactive Glasses -- 3.7.1 An Introduction to Bioactive Glasses -- 3.7.2 Composition and Structure of Melt-Derived Bioactive Glasses -- 3.7.3 Sol-Gel Bioactive Glasses -- 3.7.4 The Bioactive Process in SiO2-Based Glasses -- 3.7.5 Biomimetic Nanoapatite Formation on SiO2-Based Bioactive Glasses: The Glass Surface -- 3.7.6 Role of P2O5 in the Surface Properties and the In Vitro Bioactivity of Sol-Gel Glasses -- 3.7.7 Highly Ordered Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses (MBG) -- 3.7.8 Biomimetism Evaluation on Silica-Based Bioactive Glasses -- 3.8 Biomimetism in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials -- 3.8.1 An Introduction to Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials -- 3.8.2 Synthesis of Biomimetic Nanoapatites on Class I Hybrid Materials -- 3.8.3 Synthesis of Biomimetic Nanoapatites on Class II Hybrid Materials -- 3.8.4 Bioactive Star Gels -- References -- Chapter 4 Clinical Applications of Apatite-Derived Nanoceramics -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Nanoceramics for Bone-Tissue Regeneration -- 4.2.1 Bone Cell Adhesion on Nanoceramics. The Role of the Proteins in the Specific Cell-Material Attachment -- 4.2.2 Bioinspired Nanoapatites. Supramolecular Chemistry as a Tool for Better Bioceramics -- 4.3 Nanocomposites for Bone-Grafting Applications -- 4.3.1 Nano-HA-Based Composites -- 4.3.2 Mechanical Properties of HA-Derived Nanocomposites.

4.3.3 Nanoceramic Filler and Polymer Matrix Anchorage -- 4.3.4 Significance of the Nanoparticle Dispersion Homogeneity -- 4.3.5 Biocompatibility Behaviour of HA-Derived Nanocomposites -- 4.3.6 Nanocomposite-Based Fibres -- 4.3.7 Nanocomposite-Based Microspheres -- 4.3.8 Nanocomposite Scaffolds for Bone-Tissue Engineering -- 4.4 Nanostructured Biomimetic Coatings -- 4.4.1 Sol-Gel-Based Nano-HA Coatings -- 4.4.2 Nano-HA Coatings Prepared by Biomimetic Deposition -- 4.5 Nanoapatites for Diagnosis and Drug/Gene-Delivery Systems -- 4.5.1 Biomimetic Nanoapatites as Biological Probes -- 4.5.2 Biomimetic Nanoapatites for Drug and Gene Delivery -- References -- Subject Index.