Bone formation involves the mineralization of calcium phosphate within the fibers of collagen and requires a variety of non-collagenous proteins in controlling the process. Biomimetic molecules, such as selected ssDNA aptamers, could be used to promote the same intrafibrillar mineralization. The goal of this work was to determine the influence of known DNA aptamers on collagen mineralization. Analysis was completed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultra-violet and infrared spectroscopy (UV-Vis and IR), and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). It was found that DNA aptamer containing a G-quadruplex promotes intrafibrillar mineralization whereas DNA lacking the G-quadruplex does not. Percent uptake of aptamer and calcium over a 7-day mineralization reaction as well as aptamer affinity to collagen in the absence of mineralization was determined and showed marked differences between the role of the two DNA aptamers. SEM and IR analysis allowed for determination of morphology and crystallinity of the mineral. The sum of these results provides insight into the mechanism of collagen mineralization and the structure-dependent role of biomimetic DNA aptamers.

Selected DNA aptamers exhibit structure-dependent control of collagen mineralization

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