From Bone Regeneration to Heavy Metal Absorption, The Great Potential of Apatite Compounds, According to Prof Charlena
Apatite compounds are considered to have great potential as strategic materials capable of addressing 21st century global health and environmental challenges.
In addition to being widely used in the biomedical field to support hard tissue regeneration, this material also demonstrates a high capacity for addressing heavy metal pollution in the environment.
This was stated by Prof Charlena, a Full Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at IPB University, during an online press conference ahead of her Full Professor Inaugural Lecture (7/23).
According to Prof Charlena, apatite, particularly hydroxyapatite (HAp) and fluorapatite (FAp) possesses a stable yet flexible crystal structure, allowing it to be modified through ionic substitution. These characteristics make it a multifunctional material applicable across various fields.
“In the field of health, apatite is a major component of human hard tissue. This material is biocompatible, bioactive, and osteoconductive, making it highly promising for use as an implant material, a bone regeneration scaffold, or a coating for metal implants,” she said.
She explained that various studies have shown that the development of apatite based composite materials combined with metal oxides or biodegradable polymers can enhance mechanical properties, bioactivity, and antibacterial activity. Thus, these materials have the potential to support the development of safer and more effective medical technologies.
Not only in the field of health, Prof Charlena explained that apatite also plays an important role in the environmental sector. Its crystal structure, rich in phosphate and hydroxyl groups, allows this material to function as an adsorbent and stabilizer to bind various hazardous contaminants, particularly heavy metals such as lead (Pb²⁺) and hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺).
“The development of hydroxyapatite composites with Fe₃O₄ has demonstrated high efficiency in absorbing heavy metals while also providing magnetic properties that facilitate the separation process after use,” she said.
According to her, this innovation opens up opportunities for the application of more efficient and environmentally friendly remediation technologies. The similarity in ionic interaction mechanisms among apatite compounds serves as a bridge between biomedical and environmental applications. The same material can function as a healing agent in biological systems and as an agent for restoring environmental quality.
Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the development of apatite materials still faces a number of challenges, such as controlling nanoparticle size, improving material stability, standardizing production processes, and accelerating downstream development toward clinical and industrial applications.
Therefore, interdisciplinary research collaboration is key to ensuring that the potential of apatite can be optimally harnessed to support sustainable development and improve people’s quality of life.
