Nano-structured composites based on calcium phosphate for cellular delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents

Calcium phosphate (CaP) is a major mineral component of native bones and teeth. Due to its excellent biocompatibitity and non-toxicity, CaP has found extensive applications as biomedical materials, such as orthopedic and dental implant candidates, tissue scaffolds, and targeted delivery systems for therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents into cells. Taking advantage of the recent advances in supramolecular assembly, nano-structured CaP composites can be fabricated with ease under ambient conditions. They exhibit promising features, which may hopefully address these challenges as being advanced nanocarriers in nanomedicine. Several useful strategies are discussed while emphasis is placed on the PEGylated CaP delivery systems. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.