Lanthanides-Substituted Hydroxyapatite for Biomedical Applications

Lately, there has been an increasing demand for materials that could improve tissue regenerative therapies and provide antimicrobial effects. Similarly, there is a growing need to develop or modify biomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of different pathologies. In this scenario, hydroxyapatite (HAp) appears as a bioceramic with extended functionalities. Nevertheless, there are certain disadvantages related to the mechanical properties and lack of antimicrobial capacity. To circumvent them, the doping of HAp with a variety of cationic ions is emerging as a good alterative due to the different biological roles of each ion. Among many elements, lanthanides are understudied despite their great potential in the biomedical field. For this reason, the present review focuses on the biological benefits of lanthanides and how their incorporation into HAp can alter its morphology and physical properties. A comprehensive section of the applications of lanthanides-substituted HAp nanoparticles (HAp NPs) is presented to unveil the potential biomedical uses of these systems. Finally, the need to study the tolerable and non-toxic percentages of substitution with these elements is highlighted.

Automated summary

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for materials that enhance tissue regenerative therapies and possess antimicrobial properties. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) emerges as a bioceramic with extended functionalities, but it has disadvantages in terms of mechanical properties and lack of antimicrobial capacity. To overcome these limitations, doping HAp with various cationic ions, including understudied lanthanides, is being explored. This review focuses on the biological benefits of lanthanides and how their incorporation into HAp can modify its morphology and physical properties, presenting potential biomedical applications of lanthanides-substituted HAp nanoparticles (HAp NPs). The importance of studying the tolerable and non-toxic percentages of substitution with these elements is also emphasized.