beta-Tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) nano powders (similar to 80 nm) were synthesized using a simple sol-gel route with calcium nitrate and potassium dihydrogenphosphate as calcium and phosphorus precursors, respectively. Double distilled water was used as a diluting media for beta-TCP sot preparation and ammonia was used to adjust the pH. After aging, the beta-TCP gel was dried at 40 degrees C and calcined to different temperatures ranging from 200 to 800 degrees C. The dried and calcined powders were characterized for phase composition using X-ray dffractrometry (XRD) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The particle size and morphology was studied using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Calcination revealed that with increase in temperature, both the crystallinity and crystallite size of beta-TCP particles increased. Particle size distribution analysis of the calcined beta-TCP at 800 degrees C showed a narrow skewed distribution plot centered between 70 and 80 nm. This value was in closed agreement with particle size values obtained from XRD analysis (83 +/- 6 nm). The present study showed that narrowly distributed, high crystalline, pure beta-TCP could be obtained using this simple technique for biomedical applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.