Chapter 8 - Calcium phosphate nanoplatforms for drug delivery and theranostic applications

Abstract

Nanomaterials possess outstanding attributes due to nanoscale effects and increased surface area, which influence interactions with biomolecules, cells, and the biological system. They have been envisaged to play an important role in biosensors, bioimaging, and gene and drug delivery applications. Properties, including size, morphology, composition, zeta potential, and structure, control their specific interactions on the cellular level. Calcium phosphates (CPs), the primary component of natural hard tissue, are bequeathed with commendable properties, including biocompatibility, bioactivity, tunable biodegradability, that depends on the Ca/P molar ratio and nontoxicity. In addition, the dissolution rate of CPs can be contained by adjusting its crystallinity, thereby potentially promoting the development of efficient and controlled delivery systems. This chapter focuses on the biological properties of CP nanoparticles, including their limited toxicity. It also describes the various mechanisms in drug loading, targetability, and the uses of CPs as drug and gene delivery agents. The chapter also includes a brief overview of CPs as theranostic agents.