Synthetic nano-sized crystalline calcium phosphate, particularly hydroxyapatite, having a specific surface area in the range of 150 m2/g to 300 m2/g, is described. The nano-sized crystalline calcium phosphate may be in the form of a powder or in the form of a coating on a surface. A method of producing a nano-sized crystalline calcium phosphate powder or coating is also described. The method comprises formation of a liquid crystalline phase in a water solution of calcium, phosphor and a surfactant, placing the phase in an ammonia atmosphere so that nano-sized crystals are formed, followed by either removal of the surfactant with a solvent and recovering the nano-sized crystals to obtain the powder, or diluting the ammonia-treated liquid crystalline phase with a hydrophobic organic solvent to create a microemulsion of the nano-sized crystals in water, dipping an oxide layer-coated surface of an object into the microemulsion, or alternatively saving the step of ammonia treatment of the liquid crystalline phase until after the dipping of the surface of an object into the microemulsion, followed by removal of the organic solvent and the surfactant from the surface to obtain the coating.