Biomimetic Innovation in Pharmacology: What is nanoXIM?

October 6, 2025 •

3 min read

Hydroxyapatite makes up about 97% of tooth enamel and 70% of bone, making it the hardest substance in the human body. What is nanoXIM? It is a brand of synthetic, nano-sized hydroxyapatite designed to mimic this natural mineral for medical and dental applications.

Quick Summary

nanoXIM is a brand of synthetic nano-hydroxyapatite, a biomaterial that mimics the mineral component of human bones and teeth. It is used in oral care for enamel remineralization and in medical devices for bone regeneration.

Key Points

Definition: nanoXIM is a brand of synthetic nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), a biomaterial that mimics the natural mineral in human bones and teeth.
Primary Use in Oral Care: It is used in toothpastes and mouthwashes to remineralize enamel, reduce tooth sensitivity by blocking dentin tubules, and naturally whiten teeth.
Medical Applications: In medicine, nanoXIM serves as a raw material for bone grafts and injectable bone substitutes to promote and stimulate new bone formation.
Key Property: Its effectiveness comes from its nanometer-sized, rod-shaped particles that can integrate with microscopic biological structures.
Safety Approval: nanoXIM•CarePaste is the only nHA ingredient approved as safe for oral care products by Europe's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
Biocompatibility: It has excellent biocompatibility, meaning it does not typically cause toxicity or inflammation and integrates well with host tissue.
Mechanism: It works by providing a biomimetic scaffold that encourages the body's natural repair processes, whether for tooth enamel or bone tissue.

The Foundation of Hard Tissues: Hydroxyapatite

In the realm of biomaterials, few substances are as fundamental to the human body as hydroxyapatite (HA). This naturally occurring mineral is a form of calcium apatite and the primary structural component of our bones and teeth, making up as much as 70% and 97% of their composition, respectively. Its inherent biocompatibility means the body recognizes it and can use it, making synthetic versions highly valuable in medicine and pharmacology. The development of nanotechnology has allowed for the creation of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), which has particles so small they can perform tasks that larger particles cannot. This innovation is at the core of a specialized ingredient known as nanoXIM.

Unveiling nanoXIM: Composition and Properties

nanoXIM is the brand name for a range of high-purity, synthetic nano-hydroxyapatite materials manufactured by the company FLUIDINOVA. These materials are engineered to be biomimetic, meaning they closely replicate the size, shape, and structure of the natural hydroxyapatite found in the human body. nanoXIM is available in several forms, including pastes, powders, and granules, each tailored for different applications.

One common form is nanoXIM•CarePaste, which contains rod-shaped nanoparticles typically smaller than 50 nanometers. This size allows effective interaction with microscopic structures, such as entering and sealing dentin tubules in teeth to reduce dental hypersensitivity.

Key properties of nanoXIM include:

High Biocompatibility: Mimics natural bodily substances, reducing toxicity or inflammation risks.
Nanometric Particle Size: Particles under 50-100 nm can integrate with microscopic structures.
High Surface Area: Small particle size increases reactivity and bonding capability.
Osteostimulative Nature: Encourages bone cell growth in medical uses.

The formulation of nanoXIM has undergone safety evaluation, and nanoXIM•CarePaste is the only nano-hydroxyapatite approved for use in oral cosmetics by the European Commission's SCCS.

Medical and Pharmacological Applications

nanoXIM's properties make it useful in both medicine and oral care.

Oral Care and Dentistry

In dentistry, nanoXIM is an ingredient in oral products like toothpastes and mouthwashes. Its actions include:

Enamel Remineralization: Nanoparticles adhere to the tooth surface, filling micro-cracks and attracting calcium and phosphate to rebuild and strengthen enamel.
Dentin Hypersensitivity Reduction: Blocking open dentin tubules with nanoXIM nanoparticles prevents external stimuli from reaching nerves, reducing sensitivity. It has shown potential to occlude up to 75% of tubules.
Natural Whitening and Smoothing: Repairing surface imperfections leads to a smoother enamel surface, reflecting more light for a naturally brighter appearance.

Bone Regeneration

For bone repair, nanoXIM is a raw material for medical devices such as bone grafts, injectable substitutes, and implant coatings. It provides a scaffold that supports new bone growth and stimulates osteoblasts. The material is gradually resorbed and replaced by natural bone over time. Some medical devices using nanoXIM have FDA and CE mark approval.

Comparison with Other Biomaterials


Feature	nanoXIM (Synthetic nHA)	Autografts (Patient's Bone)	Allografts (Donor Bone)	Xenografts (Animal Bone)
Source	Laboratory Synthesized	Patient's own body	Human donor	Animal (e.g., bovine)
Biocompatibility	Excellent, as it is nature-identical	Perfect	Good, but risk of immune response	Variable, risk of immune response
Disease Transmission Risk	None	None	Low but present	Low but present
Supply	Unlimited	Limited to patient's available bone	Limited by donors	Generally available
Second Surgical Site	Not required	Required, causing additional pain and morbidity	Not required	Not required
Primary Mechanism	Osteostimulative and osteoconductive scaffold	Osteoinductive, osteogenic, and osteoconductive	Primarily osteoconductive	Primarily osteoconductive

Conclusion

What is nanoXIM? It represents an advancement in biomimetic nanotechnology, providing a safe and effective platform for therapeutic applications by synthetically recreating the building block of bone and teeth at a nanoscale. Its ability to integrate with the body supports uses ranging from daily oral care to complex bone regeneration, highlighting its role in modern pharmacology and medicine. Its safety and clinical validation, including SCCS approval for oral use, establish it as a trusted biomaterial.

For more information from the manufacturer, visit: FLUIDINOVA

Frequently Asked Questions

nanoXIM is a high-purity, synthetic version of hydroxyapatite, the same calcium phosphate mineral that makes up the majority of human tooth enamel and bone.

While chemically similar, nanoXIM differs from regular hydroxyapatite primarily in its particle size. nanoXIM particles are on the nanoscale (typically under 100 nm), which allows them to more effectively penetrate and bond with enamel and bone structures compared to larger micro-sized particles.

Yes. Specifically, nanoXIM•CarePaste, the form used in oral care, is the only nano-hydroxyapatite that has been evaluated and approved as safe for use in cosmetic products like toothpaste by the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).

Tooth sensitivity is often caused by open channels (dentin tubules) that lead to the tooth's nerve. The nanoparticles in nanoXIM are small enough to enter and seal these tubules, creating a protective layer that blocks pain triggers like hot or cold stimuli.

nanoXIM can help repair and remineralize early enamel lesions, which are the precursor to cavities. It fills in microscopic cracks and restores lost minerals, strengthening the enamel against acid attacks. However, it cannot repair established cavities, which require professional dental treatment.

Yes, many studies and dentists consider nano-hydroxyapatite an effective alternative to fluoride. It works to remineralize and protect teeth, and products with nanoXIM are often recommended for those seeking fluoride-free oral care options.

Beyond oral care, nanoXIM is used as a raw material for medical devices approved for bone regeneration. These include injectable bone substitutes, bone graft materials, and coatings for medical implants to improve their integration with the body.