Abstract
Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO~4~Β·2H~2~O, CHPD) a dissolved mineral in urine is known to cause renal or bladder stones in both human and animals. Growth of CHPD or brushite using sodium metasilicate gel techniques followed by light and polarizing microscopic studies revealed its structural and morphological details. Crystal identity by powder xβray diffraction confirmed the FTβIR and FTβRaman spectroscopic techniques as alternate methods for fast analysis of brushite crystals which could form as one type of renal stones. PβOβP asymmetric stretchings in both FTβIR (987.2, 874.1 and 792 cm^β1^) and FTβRaman (986.3 cm^β1^, 1057.6 cm^β1^ and 875.2 cm^β1^) were found as characteristics of brushite crystals. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed brushite crystallization purity using gel method by studying their endothermic peaks. This study incorporated a multidisciplinary approach in characterizing CHPD crystals grown in vitro to help formulate prevention or dissolution strategy in controlling urinary stone growth. Initial studies with 0.2 M citric acid ions as controlling agent in the nucleation of brushite crystals further support the presented approach. (Β© 2010 WILEYβVCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)