The morphological evolution of biominerals grown in organic matrices, and the interaction of such matrices with the inorganic surfaces are important for understanding biomineralization processes and for developing bioinspired materials. In this work, we employ hydrogels as model organic matrices and a ‘double-diffusion’ method to mimic the formation of calcium oxalate, the major constituent of kidney stones. Gel-mediated crystallization provides a great way to vary the local supersaturation through controlling the diffusion rate of the reacting ions. We study the nucleation, growth, type of polymorph, orientation and aggregation of the calcium oxalate particles as affected by the gel density, reservoir concentrations, and molar stock solution ratio. We also explore the inhibitory effects of anionic macromolecules or small organic molecules on the biomineral formation. These findings help our understanding of the mechanism of polymer incorporation in biomineral aggregates, and provide insights into the formation of organic-inorganic composite biomaterials. Furthermore, they guide the design and synthesis of therapeutic agents (modifiers with molecular recognition for crystal faces) to control biomineralization associated diseases.

Organic matrix-mediated growth and control of a pathologic biomineral

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.