Advances of calcium phosphate nanoceramics for the osteoinductive potential and mechanistic pathways in maxillofacial bone defect repair

Maxillofacial bone defects, arising from congenital malformations, tumors, infections, and traumas, represent a common clinical condition that impairs patients' appearance, speech, and motor functions. Calcium phosphate nanoceramics, which bear a chemical composition similar to autologous bone, demonstrate strong biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, making them an extensively applied material in bone defect repairing. Notably, these nanoceramics exhibit inherent osteoinductive properties ，which can stimulate osteogenesis at non-osseous sites ，without the need for additional cells or growth factors， these aspects further expand their application in bone repair. Nevertheless, the precise osteoinductive mechanism of calcium phosphate nanoceramics remains elusive, and differences in vivo individual persist, thereby academic communities need to resolve the pressing issues that restrict their use. This paper reviews the advancements in research on the properties of calcium phosphate nanoceramics and the factors affecting the biological process of bone formation, aiming to provide new insights for the treatment of maxillofacial bone defects.