Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Hydroxyapatite modified with therapeutic ions as a smart material for implantology and regenerative applications. A review Cover

Hydroxyapatite modified with therapeutic ions as a smart material for implantology and regenerative applications. A review

Open Access
|Dec 2025

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite is a material widely used in biomaterial engineering due to its biocompatibility, bioactivity and chemical similarity to the mineral fraction of bone tissue. Despite its numerous advantages, its limited biological activity and mechanical properties prompt the search for modifications that will increase its functionality in clinical applications. One effective approach is ion substitution in the HA crystal structure, which can occur in both cationic (e.g. Ca2+) and anionic (e.g. OH) sites.

This review article discusses the effect of substitution of selected therapeutic ions – copper (Cu2+), strontium (Sr2+), cobalt (Co2+), zinc (Zn2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) – on the physicochemical and biological properties of hydroxyapatite. Their impact on physical and chemical properties and biological activity was analysed. Ion substitution enables the design of multifunctional materials that can support regenerative processes, prevent infections and modulate cellular response. A review of current literature data confirms that modified HA may be a promising platform for advanced implant systems and drug delivery systems.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37705/TechTrans/e2025017 | Journal eISSN: 2353-737X | Journal ISSN: 0011-4561
Language: English
Submitted on: Jun 30, 2025
Accepted on: Nov 28, 2025
Published on: Dec 1, 2025
Published by: Cracow University of Technology
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2025 Edyta Kosińska, Julia Sadlik, Agnieszka Sobczak-Kupiec, published by Cracow University of Technology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.