Progress in the application of amorphous calcium phosphate in bone regeneration materials: From in vivo regulatory mechanisms to biomimetic material construction

Craniomaxillofacial bone defects exhibit high incidence rates and significantly impair patients’ quality of life. Effective reconstruction of these defects is crucial for functional rehabilitation and improved survival prognosis. As a key precursor in bone mineralization, amorphous calcium phosphate(ACP) exhibits exceptional bioactivity, plasticity, and controllable degradability, offering unique advantages in establishing mineralized microenvironments and promoting bone tissue regeneration. This review summarizes the biological mechanisms that regulate the stability and crystallization behavior of ACP, with a particular focus on its applications in various biomaterial systems, including coatings, bone cements, hydrogels, nanoparticle platforms, and gradient mineralization constructs. It aims to provide a theoretical basis for the broader clinical translation of ACP-based biomaterials.