Calcium phosphate was coated from tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP), hydroxyapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP), beta-calcium pyrophosphate (CPP), and beta-calcium metapbosphate (CMP) powder targets using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The composition of the crystal phase of the coated films was changed, depending on the target materials, and the Ca/P molar ratios of the films varied from 0.74 to 2.54, increasing with the Ca/P molar ratio of the target. The solubility of the target, determined using a microwave-induced plasma-mass spectrometer was: TTCP approximate to beta-CMP > beta-TCP > beta-CPP > HA, and the deposition rate from each target showed a similar order to the solubility: TTCP; CMP > beta-TCP > beta-CPP, HA. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.