A novel growth process of calcium carbonate crystals in silk fibroin hydrogel system

Abstract

We report an interesting finding of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) crystal growth in the silk fibroin (SF) hydrogel with different concentrations by a simple ion diffusion method. The experimental results indicate that the CaCO 3 crystals obtained from silk fibroin gels with low and high concentrations are all calcites with unusual morphologies. Time-dependent growth study was carried out to investigate the crystallization process. It is believed that silk fibroin hydrogel plays an important role in the process of crystallization. The possible formation mechanism of CaCO 3 crystals is proposed. This study provides a better explanation of the influence of silk fibroin concentration and its structure on CaCO 3 crystals growth.

Influence of temperature, pH and simulated biological solutions on swelling and structural properties of biomineralized (CaCO3) PVP–CMC hydrogel

“…The FTIR spectra of PVP–CMC hydrogel have been placed as a control. It can be seen from the figure that the strong absorption band of CO 3 2− is present in all the peaks except pure PVP–CMC hydrogel with the range around 1410 and 871 cm −1 which confirms the deposition of calcite within the matrix (Shah et al 2014; Ma et al 2013). Further, it can be seen in all the spectra that a broad band of peak in the range of 3332 and 2923 cm −1 corresponds to hydrogen bonding forming –OH group of the polymer glycoside ring and the –OH stretching of water free and involved in hydrogel bonds.…”

Bio-inspired mineralization of hydroxyapatite in 3D silk fibroin hydrogel for bone tissue engineering

“…The mixture was dwelled at 60 ℃ for 24 h to induce gelation [26]. The hydrogel thus obtained was cut into 10×10×10 mm 3 cubes and kept in refrigerator for further use.…”

Recycling of shell wastes into nanosized calcium carbonate powders with different phase compositions

“…The silk fibroin and insoluble chitin fibers provided the framework proteins and scaffolds, and the acidic proteins adsorbed on the chitin fibers were the nucleation sites for the formation of calcite phase (Levi et al, 1998). The CaCO 3 crystallites obtained from silk fibroin gels were calcites with unusual morphologies (Ma et al, 2013;Zhang et al, 2013). Accordingly, the complex morphology of calcite particles would be formed by the residual macromolecule-induced growth of small calcite crystals on the chitin scaffolds.…”