The conditions for preparing transparent blocks assembled with low-crystallized hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles were examined. An aqueous dispersion of 32-nm-sized HAp nanoparticles was prepared by a wet chemical process at room temperature (18-22 degrees C), and then the nanoparticle-assembled block was prepared by casting the dispersion at 60 degrees C. We also proposed a novel casting method on flowable substrates to fabricate crack-free nanoparticle-assembled blocks, because large and thick blocks were not obtained by a conventional casting method on solid substrates due to crack formation. The nanoparticle-assembled transparent HAp had nanosized pores among the particles. Cell adhesion and proliferation on the block could be directly observed with an optical microscope. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.