Biopolymer colloids for controlling and templating inorganic synthesis

• Laura C. Preiss,
• Katharina Landfester and
• Rafael Muñoz-Espí

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 2129–2138, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.222

• by Müller et al. [31]. From the mineral side, the most investigated systems are by far the calcium minerals because of their biological importance: calcium carbonate [16][17][18][20][32], calcium oxalate [23][24][25][26][33], and calcium phosphates (including hydroxyapatite) [22]. Nevertheless

• lengths and composition are sometimes used [23][24][36][37]. A previous work from our research group showed that an increasing length of oligo(L-glutamic acid) chains is able to change not only the morphology of the obtained crystals, but also to stabilize the metastable calcium oxalate dihydrate (Figure

• groups were shown to have an effect on the growth and on the final properties of inorganic materials such as zinc oxide [40][41], calcium oxalate [38], or calcium carbonate [42][43]. It is expectable that analogous effects should be obtained when biopolymeric (or synthetic biomimetic chains) are attached

Effect of silver nanoparticles on human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation

• Christina Sengstock,
• Jörg Diendorf,
• Matthias Epple,
• Thomas A. Schildhauer and
• Manfred Köller

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 2058–2069, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.214

• -NP displayed no distinct morphological changes, but a decrease in the differentiation of hMSCs (Figure 6B) in contrast to cells cultured without silver (Figure 6C) was observed. In the presence of Ag+ ions, no significant change in calcium accretion was measured (Figure 6D) in contrast to the

• positive control (Figure 6C). The microscopic data were confirmed by quantitative analyses of osteogenic differentiation using cetylpyridinium chloride after the extraction of alizarin red. As shown in Figure 7, there was a significant change in calcium accretion after 21 d in the presence of Ag-NP

• images), staining with alizarin red S was used to visualize calcium accretion in cells cultured under osteogenic conditions. hMSCs incubated in the presence of osteogenic-differentiation media served as the positive control (C). hMSCs incubated in the presence of RPMI/FCS served as the negative control

Carbon-based smart nanomaterials in biomedicine and neuroengineering

• Antonina M. Monaco and
• Michele Giugliano

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1849–1863, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.196

• been studied by Park et al. [144]; the results showed not only an improved differentiation but also an enhanced cell adhesion and neurites formation compared to control conditions. Moreover, the expression of laminin-related receptors and of genes involved in the calcium signalling pathway was up

Real-time monitoring of calcium carbonate and cationic peptide deposition on carboxylate-SAM using a microfluidic SAW biosensor

• Anna Pohl and
• Ingrid M. Weiss

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1823–1835, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.193

• the interaction of calcium carbonate with standard carboxylate self-assembled monolayer sensor chips. Different fluids, with and without biomolecular components, were investigated. The pH-dependent surface interactions of two bio-inspired cationic peptides, AS8 and ES9, which are similar to an

• acoustic wave biosensors to significantly expand our experimental capabilities for studying the principles underlying biomineralization in vitro. Keywords: biomineralization; calcium carbonate; love-type surface acoustic wave; poly-cationic peptide; Introduction Biomineralization is a natural process of

• efficiency while expanding the experimental design options [37][38]. So far, the most common real-time assays with respect to the function of macromolecules involved in biomineralization are based on calcium titration in bulk environments [23][39]. Although these assays are perfectly suited to monitor the

Ionic liquid-assisted formation of cellulose/calcium phosphate hybrid materials

• Ahmed Salama,
• Mike Neumann,
• Christina Günter and
• Andreas Taubert

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1553–1568, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.167

• -14476 Potsdam, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.167 Abstract Cellulose/calcium phosphate hybrid materials were synthesized via an ionic liquid-assisted route. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and

• the ionic liquid-based process yields materials that are potentially useful as scaffolds for regenerative therapies. Keywords: biomineralization; calcium phosphate; carbohydrates; cellulose; hybrid materials; ionic liquid; Introduction One of the key advantages of carbohydrates, especially cellulose

• and chitin, is their abundance and favorable properties such as mechanical robustness and biocompatibility [1][2][3][4]. Moreover, the growth (mineralization) of calcium phosphate on polysaccharides may lead to composites with properties that are useful for the regeneration of hard tissue even though

Direct nanoscale observations of the coupled dissolution of calcite and dolomite and the precipitation of gypsum

• Francesco G. Offeddu,
• Jordi Cama,
• Josep M. Soler and
• Christine V. Putnis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1245–1253, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.138

• amounts of synthetic gypsum can precipitate during industrial processes involving the reaction between calcite and sulfuric acid [26]. The motivation of this study is to learn about the overall process of calcium carbonate mineral (calcite and dolomite) dissolution and gypsum precipitation in acid sulfate

Model systems for studying cell adhesion and biomimetic actin networks

• Dorothea Brüggemann,
• Johannes P. Frohnmayer and
• Joachim P. Spatz

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1193–1202, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.131

• increased by the presence of divalent ions such as manganese or calcium [16]. Cellular adhesion strength is mostly controlled by the intermolecular spacing of the adhesion receptors rather than by their density [17]. This result was obtained from different studies using highly ordered gold nanoparticles

Characterization and photocatalytic study of tantalum oxide nanoparticles prepared by the hydrolysis of tantalum oxo-ethoxide Ta₈(μ₃-O)₂(μ-O)₈(μ-OEt)₆(OEt)₁₄

• Subia Ambreen,
• N D Pandey,
• Peter Mayer and
• Ashutosh Pandey

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1082–1090, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.121

• , fused calcium chloride and aluminum isopropoxide, then it was passed into the distilled water through a tube with a diameter of 7 mm. 1H NMR spectra were recorded in C6D6 on a Bruker Biospin ARX spectrometer with TMS as internal reference. TGA/DTA/DSC was recorded by using a Diamond TG/DTAN instrument

Growth and characterization of CNT–TiO₂ heterostructures

• Yucheng Zhang,
• Ivo Utke,
• Johann Michler,
• Gabriele Ilari,
• Marta D. Rossell and
• Rolf Erni

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 946–955, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.108

• voltage of 60 kV to avoid beam damage, Suenaga et al. have been able to detect single calcium atoms inside the metallofullerence-doped single-wall nanotubes [46]. Nakagawa et al. have applied the atomic-scale EELS to the study of the (001) LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 interfaces, and observed an asymmetry between

Cyclodextrin-poly(ε-caprolactone) based nanoparticles able to complex phenolphthalein and adamantyl carboxylate

• Daniela Ailincai and
• Helmut Ritter

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 651–657, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.76

• purchased from Acros, dried over calcium hydride, distilled under reduced pressure, and stored over 0.4 nm molecular sieves. Sodium ascorbate (AppliChem) and copper(II) sulfate (Carl Roth GmbH) were used as received. Commercially available reagents and solvents were used without further purification

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

• Xiaohong Wang Heinz C. Schroder Werner E. G. Muller ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55128 Mainz, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.72 Abstract Calcium carbonate

• is the material that builds up the spicules of the calcareous sponges. Recent results revealed that the calcium carbonate/biocalcite-based spicular skeleton of these animals is formed through an enzymatic mechanism, such as the skeleton of the siliceous sponges, evolutionarily the oldest animals that

• consist of biosilica. The enzyme that mediates the calcium carbonate deposition has been identified as a carbonic anhydrase (CA) and has been cloned from the calcareous sponge species Sycon raphanus. Calcium carbonate deposits are also found in vertebrate bones besides the main constituent, calcium

Magnesiothermic conversion of the silica-mineralizing golden algae Mallomonas caudata and Synura petersenii to elemental silicon with high geometric precision

• Janina Petrack,
• Steffen Jost,
• Jens Boenigk and
• Matthias Epple

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 554–560, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.65

• and hierarchical forms [8][9][10][11][12]. These porous biominerals can serve as template for chemical conversion reactions, such as the calcium carbonate skeleton of sea urchins or the silica cases of diatoms [8][13]. In 2002, such a conversion reaction was first described in which biominerals were

• template are possible. The deposition of gold or silver coatings on diatom frustules by thermal evaporation has been described [8]. Sandhage et al. have shown that diatom structures can be chemically converted at higher temperature, e.g., with magnesium to magnesium oxide or with calcium to calcium oxide

• spectroscopy (EDX) of the golden algae before the conversion are shown in Figure 4. Besides silicon, a couple of other elements were detected. The carbon and gold signals are due to the carbon sample holder and the gold sputtering, but the elements oxygen, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, and iron were

Neutral and charged boron-doped fullerenes for CO₂ adsorption

• Suchitra W. de Silva,
• Aijun Du,
• Wijitha Senadeera and
• Yuantong Gu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 413–418, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.49

• , heterofullerenes also offer excellent tuneable chemical and physical properties [10]. Gas adsorption on heterofullerenes is an appealing subject. B. Gao et al. [11] studied CO2 adsorption on calcium decorated C60 fullerene and F. Gao et al. [12] studied O2 adsorption on nitrogen-doped fullerene. Boron-doped C60

Change of the work function of platinum electrodes induced by halide adsorption

• Florian Gossenberger,
• Tanglaw Roman,
• Katrin Forster-Tonigold and
• Axel Groß

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 152–161, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.15

• combination of charge transfer and polarization effects on the adsorbate layer. The results are contrasted to the adsorption of fluorine on calcium, a system in which a decrease in the work function is also observed despite a large charge transfer to the halogen adatom. Keywords: density functional theory

• obtained for fluorine adsorption on calcium, for which an adsorption-induced decrease of the work function is also observed. However, due to the particular geometric conditions in this system, the spillout mechanism [8][22] is operative. Methods For the following calculations, the periodic density

• with increasing adsorption coverage [9][40], similar to the work function plot of F on Pt in the current study. Fluorine on calcium We have shown that the strong polarizability of large atoms such as iodine leads to a considerable buildup of charge in the adatom–surface bonding regions, which is

Exploring the retention properties of CaF₂ nanoparticles as possible additives for dental care application with tapping-mode atomic force microscope in liquid

• Matthias Wasem,
• Joachim Köser,
• Sylvia Hess,
• Enrico Gnecco and
• Ernst Meyer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 36–43, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.4

• very interesting for application in science, technology and medical applications including dentistry [18]. In this context calcium fluoride is of high interest in saliva chemistry and in the context of reducing acid dissolution of teeth [19]. The outermost layer of the teeth, also called enamel, has

• upon exposure to a fluorated solution has been observed with AFM in liquid [26]. To the best of our knowledge no manipulation experiment of particles adsorbed on human tooth enamel has been performed so far. The anticaries activity of calcium fluoride nanoparticles is mainly determined by two factors

• adhesion strength of calcium fluoride nanoparticles adsorbed on mica and on tooth enamel in liquid with AM-AFM. Theory As already described above, manipulation experiments in the tapping-mode are difficult to quantify as dynamic and friction processes are involved at the same time. To connect the power

Surface assembly and nanofabrication of 1,1,1-tris(mercaptomethyl)heptadecane on Au(111) studied with time-lapse atomic force microscopy

• Tian Tian,
• Burapol Singhana,
• Lauren E. Englade-Franklin,
• Xianglin Zhai,
• T. Randall Lee and
• Jayne C. Garno

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 26–35, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.3

• dried with calcium hydride (CaH2) and distillated before use. Pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) and lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) were purchased from Alfa Aesar. 1-Octadecanol (ReagentPlus®, 99%), formaldehyde (37 wt % in H2O), trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (≥99%), 18-crown-6 (≥99.9%), pyridine

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

• inorganic particles embedded in organic matrices [15][16][17]. Major tissues of interest include the phosphatic (bone) family of materials, and the carbonatic family as found, e.g., in mollusc shells. Within the phylum Brachiopoda, both strategies of hybrid shell architecture have evolved: Calcium carbonate

• 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

• shown in Figure 5). The spectra in Figure 3b and Figure 3c (and also the extracted averaged spectral profiles in Figure 4) are dominated by a single, sharp resonance, which differs in frequency position for orthorhombic aragonite (855 cm−1) and trigonal calcite (873 cm−1), and thus both calcium

Detection of interaction between biomineralising proteins and calcium carbonate microcrystals

• Hanna Rademaker and
• Malte Launspach

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 222–227, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.26

• brittle calcium carbonate mineral platelets embedded in a mechanically weak organic layer, nature has created a tough material. For recent reviews dealing with biomineralisation and especially nacre consult [2] and [3]. The fracture resistance of the whole shell and especially nacre, which consists of

• unspecific binding seems unlikely, since lanes A and C (Figure 4) show no difference in intensity. Verification of a specific binding would be most interesting, because this would be evidence that protein–mineral interaction guide polymorph selection and morphology of the calcium carbonate crystals. This

• on the molecular to atomic scale and conducting further experiments. Experimental As we stated several times above, the detection of interaction between biomineralising proteins and calcium carbonate microcrystals in this study is based on a modified approach from [1]. The main differences between