Calcium carbonate (CaCO3)

Calcium carbonate microparticles and nanoparticles are inorganic materials utilized in medicine as therapeutic agents and drug delivery systems. In their microparticulate form, they are primarily used as antacids to neutralize gastric acid and as phosphate binders to manage hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (StatPearls: Calcium Carbonate). As nanoparticles, they serve as biocompatible and biodegradable carriers for various therapeutics, including chemotherapeutic drugs and nucleic acids, leveraging their pH-sensitive solubility for targeted release in acidic environments like tumor tissues (Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2017). These particles can exist in different polymorphic forms—calcite, aragonite, and vaterite—each offering unique properties for drug loading and stability (PubChem CID 10112). While generally considered safe and biocompatible, their clinical use requires monitoring to avoid complications such as hypercalcemia, milk-alkali syndrome, and the development of renal calculi.

Other names

ChalkCalciteAragoniteVateriteLimestoneCarbonic acid calcium salt

Neutralization of gastric acid; binding of dietary phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract; pH-responsive release of encapsulated therapeutic agents.