Apatites for Orthopedic Applications

The complex nature of the bone complicates its reconstruction and arises the use of biomaterials for this purpose. The materials should have similar properties with the bone and can be used in different application. Particularly, beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) are biocompatible, bioactive, and osteoconductive materials having similar properties with the bone. In this review, the applications of tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite in orthopedics are given in terms of graft, carrier, and coating materials.