Biocalcite, a multifunctional inorganic polymer: Building block for calcareous sponge spicules and bioseed for the synthesis of calcium phosphate-based bone

• Xiaohong Wang,
• Heinz C. Schröder and
• Werner E. G. Müller

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 610–621, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.72

• for the precipitation of calcium phosphate mineral onto bone-forming osteoblasts. Two different calcium carbonate phases have been found during CA-driven enzymatic calcium carbonate deposition in in vitro assays: calcite crystals and round-shaped vaterite deposits. The CA provides a new target of

• crown mammals, the calcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (HA)-based skeletal systems. The understanding of the genetic blueprint of any morphogenetic event must begin with the identification and functional characterization of the individual expressed genes (proteins), followed by the elucidation of the

• spectroscopic studies suggested that Ca-deposition in osteoblasts starts intracellularly in calcium-rich vesicles that substantially contribute to the formation of bone apatite [27]. Both calcium phosphate formation [28] and calcium carbonate deposition [29] are exergonic processes that, in turn, are

Nano-FTIR chemical mapping of minerals in biological materials

• Sergiu Amarie,
• Paul Zaslansky,
• Yusuke Kajihara,
• Erika Griesshaber,
• Wolfgang W. Schmahl and
• Fritz Keilmann

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 312–323, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.35

• crystals in an organic matrix [18][19][20], and laminates of calcium phosphate nanoparticle reinforced chitin fibers [21][22]. FTIR spectroscopic microscopy is a well-established method and has been extensively used to study bone biominerals at several micrometers spatial resolution [23][24][25][26][27][28

• phase effect is on the order of 30° for strong polymer vibrations [8][9] but on the order of 400° for strong crystal phonons [3][6]. For molluscs the employment of phosphate in shell architecture has not been reported, but the radula (tooth structure) of the chitons is known to contain calcium phosphate