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Towards understanding biomineralization: calcium phosphate in a biomimetic mineralization process

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Abstract

Abstract Biomineralization processes result in organic/inorganic hybrid materials with complex shapes, hierarchical structures, and superior material properties. Recent developments in biomineralization and biomaterials have demonstrated that calcium phosphate particles play an important role in the formation of hard tissues in nature. In this paper, current concepts in biomineralization, such as nano assembly, biomimetic shell structure, and their applications are introduced. It is confirmed experimentally that enamel- or bone-liked apatite can be achieved by oriented aggregations using nano calcium phosphates as starting materials. The assembly of calcium phosphate can be either promoted or inhibited by different biomolecules so that the kinetics can be regulated biologically. In this paper, the role of nano calcium phosphate in tissue repair is highlighted. Furthermore, a new, interesting result on biomimetic mineralization is introduced, which can offer an artificial shell for living cells via a biomimetic method.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Textile, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China

    Yu-rong Cai

  2. Department of Chemistry and Center for Biopathways and Biomaterials, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Yu-rong Cai & Rui-kang Tang

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  1. Yu-rong Cai
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  2. Rui-kang Tang
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Correspondence to Rui-kang Tang.

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Cai, Yr., Tang, Rk. Towards understanding biomineralization: calcium phosphate in a biomimetic mineralization process. Front. Mater. Sci. China 3, 124–131 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-009-0026-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-009-0026-z

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