the invention provides novel dental enamel inspired materials for biomedical and dental applications . the materials are apatite - like calcium phosphate complexes and may comprise apatite , octacalcium phosphate crystals , or mixtures thereof . in one embodiment , the materials are mixtures of crystals of apatite and its precursor , octacalcium phosphate , nucleated on a titanium surface . they are prepared using a chemical process leading to the formation of biological apatite which is similar to that found in natural bone and teeth . in one embodiment , the materials are prepared by placing a titanium substrate in a supersaturated calcifyng solution containing native or purified recombinant amelogenins . the presence of the amelogenins modulates apatite crystal growth to mimic in vivo apatite crystal formation . applications for the materials include , without limitation , dental tissue replacement , orthopeadic implants for bone repair , and coatings for improving the biocompatibility and bone regeneration capability of currently available implants or medical devices made of metallic , polymeric , ceramic or composite materials .