Polymer-templated hydroxyapatite and uses thereof for purification of target molecules

A templated porous hydroxyapatite (TPHA) particle made by a method comprising:

• a) contacting a solid porous or non-porous particulate substrate comprising a hydroxyl group, amine group, quaternary amine group, aldehyde group, azide group, alkyne group, alkene group, phosphate group, sulfonate group, sulfate group, and/or carboxylic acid group with a solution comprising calcium ions, with the proviso that if a substrate comprises positively charged groups it may be contacted with a phosphate containing solution and washed prior to contact with a solution comprising calcium ions;
• b) washing the solid substrate contacted with the solution comprising calcium ions with a wash solution;
• c) contacting the washed solid substrate of step b) with a solution comprising phosphate ions to form a solid substrate coated with a brushite form of calcium phosphate;
• d) washing the solid substrate of step c) with a solution to form a brushite-coated substrate;
• and
• e) optionally repeating steps b), c), and d);
• and
• f) pyrolyzing the CaP-coated substrate to form a templated porous HA (TPHA) particle in which the particulate substrate has been substantially removed, the CaP converted to HA, and the HA microstructure manipulated by heating.