CaP Nanoparticle Characterization Using the iEM Platform

Calcium phosphate (CaP) is a natural biological mineral chemically similar to the hard tissues of the human body (bones and teeth). Calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles produced under controlled conditions are promising carriers in biological systems, such as transferring drugs or nucleic acids. Creative Biostructure offers an integrated electron microscopy (EM) analysis that includes both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Our complete EM analysis can help customers make informed decisions in the early stages of calcium phosphate nanoparticle development.

Calcium Phosphates (CaPs) and Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles

Fig1. Schematic illustration showing the preparation of CaP nanoparticles
and their cellular uptake. (Huang, X., et al, 2017)

Calcium phosphate (CaPs) crystals can be found in nature as a mineral deposit, the result of years of extreme conditions under pressure and temperature. Biologically formed CaPs, grown at ambient pressure and near room temperature (under mild conditions) are usually nanocrystals. As an important inorganic component of biological hard tissues, CaPs exist in bone, tooth, and tendon in the form of carbonized hydroxyapatite (HA), which play an important role in maintaining normal physiological functions of the body. Due to their biocompatibility, CaPs are used as bone substitution materials. In addition to material science, CaPs have attracted extensive attention in medicine, biology, and other fields. In situ precipitated dispersions of calcium phosphate nanoparticles, for example, have been used in cell biology as a non-viral DNA delivery system. Compared with other types of nanoparticles as cell transfection vectors, calcium phosphate nanoparticles have good biodegradability and high biocompatibility.

As promising gene delivery carriers, calcium phosphate nanoparticles have many advantages, including,

• Good biodegradability and high biocompatibility.
• Easy and inexpensive preparation.
• High gene loading efficacy.
• Endosomal escape properties (dissolution of CaP in mildly acidic environments).

Characterization of Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles at the iEM Platform

For many years, Creative Biostructure has been providing validation, feasibility, and qualification studies for the analysis of inorganic nanoparticles for different companies in drug delivery and other biological applications. We focus on the design and acceptance criteria for each particle characterization scheme and are dedicated to providing suitable and specific analytical procedures using advanced EM technologies. Here, we able to perform a complete EM analysis of calcium phosphate nanoparticles using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM).

Creative Biostructure" services for analyzing calcium phosphate nanoparticle properties, including,

• The size, shape of calcium phosphate nanoparticles.
• Agglomeration state and growth kinetics of calcium phosphate nanoparticles.
• The internal nanostructure of calcium phosphate nanoparticles.

Application of Our Services

• Characterization of morphology transformation and exploring the nanoparticle formation mechanism.
• Stability studies of calcium phosphate nanoparticles, involving biological media, acidic pH conditions, and different storage times.

Our services can directly reveal the properties (such as size, morphology, internal nanostructure) of calcium phosphate nanoparticles and promote a better understanding of how they have an influence on the particles" in vitro uptake and transfection efficiency. If you have any further questions about our solutions or platform, make sure to contact us, and our experienced electron microscopy experts will help you.