Biomimetic hydroxyapatite materials for therapeutic delivery

Biomimetic principles seek to imitate or reproduce key elements of biological systems using synthetic techniques. In biomineralization, inorganic materials are often designed, structured, and optimized to replicate functions of nature's minerals for a desired application. Biomimetic approaches can also provide a simple, deconstructed surrogate for biological function in the case of complex biological archetypes that are difficult to replicate ex vivo [1]. For more complicated biological systems, staged addition of features may be used to increase model sophistication as needed. Thus, biomimetic principles can potentially illustrate a biological system, explore its functionality, and exploit benefits to improve upon natural limitations.