In vitro crystallization of carbonateapatite on cholesterol from a modified simulated body fluid

Biomimetic crystallization of carbonateapatite was successfully performed on the hydrophobic surface of solid cholesterol. The crystallization experiments were carried out from aqueous solutions of modified simulated body fluid (mSBF) in a constant-composition double-diffusion (CCDD) device. The chemical composition of mSBF was equal to four times the ionic concentration of human blood plasma and contained physiological amounts of glucose and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The precipitates consisted of non-stoichiometric poorly crystallized carbonateapatite and were similar to that found in atherosclerotic plaques. We believe that this experimental approach might provide new insights for in vitro simulation of the pathological vascular calcifications.