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Apatite-related calcium phosphate, the main component of biological hard tissue, has good biocompatibility and is an economical material. Methods for the synthesis of apatite materials including hydroxyapatite (HAp) have previously been established. Therefore, for many years, apatite materials have been utilized as substitute materials for bone in orthopedic and dental fields. Such types of conventional substitute materials, which are implanted in the human body, should ostensibly be chemically stable to maintain their quality over time. However, recent advances in tissue engineering have altered this concept. Physicians and researchers now seek to identify materials that alter their properties temporally and spatially to achieve ideal tissue regeneration. In order to use apatite materials for tissue engineering and as drug delivery systems, the materials require both a high affinity for cells, tissues and/or functional molecules (e.g. growth factors and genes) and controllable bioabsorbability. To achieve these properties, various physicochemical modifications of apatite materials have been attempted. In addition, fabrication desiring three-dimensional structures (e.g. size, morphology and porosity) of apatite materials for implant sites could be one of the crucial techniques used to obtain ideal prognoses. In this review, the latest research trends relating to the techniques for the fabrication and modification of apatite materials are introduced.

Background:The adherence of Candidaspecies to denture acrylic is the initial event leading to Candida-associated denture stomatitis, with Candida albicansbeing the main aetiological agent. However, the increased incidence of immunocompromised patients in the community has resulted in the emergence of a number of non-albicans Candidaspecies as causative agents of this disease, which is commonly managed by topically delivered polyene antifungals. Hence, we investigated the effect of the exposure of denture acrylic surfaces to nystatin and amphotericin B on the subsequent adhesion of six different Candidaspecies. Methods:Acrylic strips were exposed to subtherapeutic concentrations of the two polyenes for 30 min, and the adhesion of 4 isolates each of C. albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosisand Candida tropicaliswas assessed using a previously described in vitro method with slight modifications. Results:Overall, the results indicated a 35.9% (p < 0.01) and 63.1% (p < 0.01) reduction, respectively, in yeast adhesion to denture acrylic following exposure to nystatin and amphotericin B, although this effect was not uniform for all the tested isolates. Thus, all C. glabrata,3 C. guilliermondiiand a single isolate each of C. krusei, C. parapsilosisand C. tropicaliswere not significantly affected by nystatin exposure, and a single isolate each of C. glabrataand C. guilliermondiiwere not significantly affected by amphotericin B. Conclusions:The present data, the first on the effect of polyenes on a wide range of Candidaspecies, indicate that the in vitro exposure of denture acrylic to subtherapeutic concentrations of nystatin and amphotericin B suppresses the adherence of pathogenic Candidaspecies in general.