The present invention provides novel biomaterials comprising one or more of Mg, Zn and F ions in a
carbonate-containing
biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP)
system. The
biomaterial may contain Mg, Zn, F, Mg and Zn, Mg and F, Zn and F, or Mg, Zn and F. The
biomaterial may be substantially similar in composition to
bone mineral (a
carbonate apatite). The
biomaterial may feature slow release of Mg, Zn, F, Ca, and P ions. The
biphasic calcium phosphate, BCP, may be a mixture of unsubstituted hydroxyapatite (HA) and unsubstituted .-TCP, Ca3(PO4)2. BCP of varying HA / .-TCP ratios may be produced by
sintering calcium-deficient
apatite, for instance having a Ca / P<1.5, 1.6, 1.67, 1.75 or 1.8 that has been prepared either by a
precipitation or by a
hydrolysis method or by a
solid-state reaction. The amount of each component (by weight %) present in the biomaterials may be as follows: Mg 0.5 to 12 wt %, Zn 1 to 12 wt %, F 0.1 to 4 wt %,
calcium 20 to 40 wt %,
phosphate 10 to 20 wt %, and
carbonate (CO3) 1 to 20 wt %. The biomaterial may further comprise one or more other
ion such as
strontium,
manganese,
copper,
boron or
silicate, or one or more other organic
moiety such as a
protein,
a peptide, or a
nutraceutical which may provide
antioxidant, anti-bacterial or anti-inflammatory properties. The invention also provides methods of inhibiting
bone resorption, methods of treating
osteoporosis or delaying the onset of
osteoporosis, methods of treating a
bone fracture, and methods of inhibiting
osteoclast activity. Further, the invention provides methods of treating or reversing bone deficiencies such as bone loss, similar to
osteoporosis, caused all or in part by a mineral deficient diet, a
disease such as
cancer or
osteopenia, a treatment such as
steroid therapy or
radiation therapy, or a physical condition such as immobilization.