Abstract: This invention concerns a calcium polyphosphate material consisting of amorphous nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately between about 45 nm to about 0.25 ?m that displays a considerable hardness (elastic modulus) of about 1.3 GPa. The inventive noncrystalline and biodegradable material that is produced under mild conditions, at room temperature, is morphogenetically active and preferably induces bone formation and the expression of the marker gene for osteoblast activity, alkaline phosphatase. In a preferred aspect, the invention concerns a method for producing amorphous retinol/calcium-polyphosphate nanospheres (retinol/aCa-polyP-NS) that show several unexpected properties and can be used in the treatment or prophylaxis of a variety of dermatological conditions, including photoaging.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for sealing dentinal tubules exposed at the tooth surface as a consequence of enamel defects, based on amorphous calcium polyphosphate (Ca-polyP) nano- or microparticles that strongly bind both to tooth enamel, cementum and dentin surfaces. The inventive method can also be used for the production of morphogenetically active tooth implants. A further aspect of this invention concerns the incorporation of such nano- or microparticles, after encapsulation of retinol (“retinol/aCa-polyP nano- or microspheres”), into wound dressings and related materials that are made, e.g., by electrospinning. The resulting, inventive retinol/aCa-polyP nano- or microspheres fiber mats show antimicrobial and wound healing properties and was found to increase the expression of the genes encoding for leptin and the leptin receptor, as well as the fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in a synergistic manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to the application of inorganic polyphosphates (polyP) and complexes of polyP and calcium [polyP (Ca2+ complex)] for prophylaxis and treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases by inducing hydroxyapatite formation and decreasing osteoclastogenesis. PolyP and polyP (Ca2+ complex) can be used both as a drug or food supplement and as a material to be injected into bone tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of recombinant silicatein-? or silicatein-? isolated from natural sources as well as to silicatein-?-fusion proteins as well as silicatein-?-related enzymes for the synthesis, the degradation and for modification of silicon dioxide (condensation products of silicic acid, silicates), silicones and other silicon(IV)- or metal(IV)-compounds, and their technical uses.