Less is more: silicate in the crystallization of hydroxyapatite in simulated body fluids

In this work, dual roles of silicate in the crystallization of HAP in simulated body fluids were revealed. At lower concentrations of silicate (0.05–0.5 mM), it promoted the nucleation of HAP, and the lower the amount of silicate, the faster the HAP nucleation. In contrast, at higher silicate concentrations (3–8 mM), it inhibited the nucleation of HAP.