| Abstract [eng] |
It is a well-known fact that human life expectancy and a number of elderly people have steadily increased due to better medical care and living conditions. Aging people tend to have more bone related diseases such as bone cancer or osteoporosis, therefore the risk of fracture in bone markedly increases. Normally, after the minor fractures the bone repairs by itself. Depending on bone defect size, lacking blood flow or infection injured, the bone may not be capable to repair by itself. Therefore, the demand of biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic materials, which could be used as bone regenerating substances, is rising. One of the most remarkable calcium phosphates (CPs), which is widely used in regenerative medicine and odontology, is tricalcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2, TCP). This material has two stable polymorphs: α- and β-TCP. They both have same chemical composition, but due to the different crystal structure, density and solubility, more reactive α-TCP is usually used as powder component of CP-based bone cements, while β-TCP – as biodegradable ceramics. Both synthesis conditions and partial substitution of Ca ions by other biologically active ions in CP matrix play a crucial role in the formation of the final product and also modifies physicochemical properties. The purpose of this doctoral thesis was to investigate the influence of selected ionic (Mn, Mg, Zn, Sr, Ba and Fe) substitutions and processing conditions on the phase-selective synthesis and properties of TCP polymorphs. |
