Processes for treating coral and coating an object

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an improved process for the hydrothermal conversion of coral into hydroxyapatite, a process for coating an object with hydroxyapatite, a process for coating an object with a divalent metal phosphate and uses of objects prepared by these processes. Following the processes according to the present invention, the resultant hydroxyapatite has greater strength and bioactivity than that of the coral to its conversion.

1 - 144 . (canceled)  
     
     
         145 . A crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate prepared according to the process of: 
 (a) forming a divalent metal phosphonate complex wherein a divalent metal is coordinated to a phosphonate compound according to formula (1):      R—C(O)—O—P(O)R 1 —O—C(O)—R 2    (1)    wherein R, R 1  and R 2 , which may be the same or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted alkyl groups and unsubstituted alkyl groups; and    (b) firing the divalent metal phosphonate complex to a temperature sufficient to allow formation of the crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate.    
     
     
         146 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate of  claim 145 , wherein R and R 2  are CH 3 .  
     
     
         147 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate of  claim 145  wherein R 1  is hydrogen.  
     
     
         148 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate of  claim 145 , wherein the divalent metal is selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, strontium, copper, manganese and zinc.  
     
     
         149 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate of  claim 148 , wherein the divalent metal is calcium.  
     
     
         150 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate of  claim 145 , wherein the divalent metal is coordinated with a carbonyl and/or phosphoryl oxygen of the phosphonate.  
     
     
         151 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate of  claim 145 , wherein the divalent metal phosphate is a six-membered chelate ring according to formula (2) or (3)  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein M 2+  is a divalent metal and R, R 1  and R 2 , which may be the same or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted alkyl groups and unsubstituted alkyl groups.  
       
     
     
         152 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate according to  claim 145 , wherein the divalent metal phosphonate complex has a structure according to formula (4) or (5)  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         153 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate of  claim 145 , wherein the divalent metal phosphonate complex is fired between about 500° C. and about 800° C. for about two hours.  
     
     
         154 . The crystalline monophasic or bone-like divalent metal phosphate of  claim 145 , prepared as a powder.  
     
     
         155 . The powder of  claim 154 , prepared in nanocrystalline form.  
     
     
         156 . A sintered monolithic product produced by shaping and sintering one or more divalent metal phosphates of  claim 145 .  
     
     
         157 . The sintered monolithic product of  claim 156 , wherein the divalent metal phosphates are selected from hydroxyapatite and tri-calcium phosphate.  
     
     
         158 . The sintered monolithic product of  claim 156 , further comprising one or more pharmaceutically active compounds.  
     
     
         159 . The sintered monolithic product of  claim 158 , wherein the pharmaceutically active compounds are selected from group consisting of bone morphogenic proteins (BMP), collagen, growth factors (GF), and marrow stromal cells (MSC).  
     
     
         160 . A prosthetic implant formed from the sintered monolithic product according to  claim 156 .  
     
     
         161 . The prosthetic implant of  claim 160 , selected from the group consisting of dental implant, orthopaedic implant or joint replacement, craniofacial implant and ocular implant.  
     
     
         162 . A bone graft material formed from a coated object produced by a process comprising the steps of: 
 (a) preparing a sol containing a divalent metal phosphonate complex wherein a divalent metal is coordinated to a phosphonate compound according to formula (1)      R—C(O)—O—P(O)R 1 —O—C(O)—.R 2    (1)    wherein R, R 1  and R 2 , which may be the same or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted alkyl groups and unsubstituted alkyl groups; and    (b) dipping the object into the sol;    (c) heating the dipped object in order to remove any solvent; and    (d) firing the heated object to allow conversion of the divalent metal phosphonate complex into the divalent metal phosphate.    
     
     
         163 . A scaffolding for soft tissue formed from a coated object produced by a process comprising the steps of: 
 (a) preparing a sol containing a divalent metal phosphonate complex wherein a divalent metal is coordinated to a phosphonate compound according to formula (1)      R—C(O)—O—P(O)R 1 —O—C(O)—.R 2    (1)    wherein R, R 1  and R 2 , which may be the same or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted alkyl groups and unsubstituted alkyl groups; and    (b) dipping the object into the sol;    (c) heating the dipped object in order to remove any solvent; and    (d) firing the heated object to allow conversion of the divalent metal phosphonate complex into the divalent metal phosphate.