Biological Crystallization

Gómez‐Morales, Jaime; Falini, Giuseppe; García‐Ruiz, Juan Manuel

doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-56369-9.00020-4

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 235 publications

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“…15−17 The process may be performed inside a reactor, with three cells that are separated by a porous membrane where calcium and carbonate diffuse from the outer to the middle cell resulting in the precipitation of the less soluble calcium carbonate, or simply by the direct adding and fast mixing of these two solutions. 15,16,18 The second approach was used to study, for example, the incorporation of recombinant Perlucin protein, 19,20 the effect of recombinant sea urchin spicule matrix protein, rSpSM50, on the calcium carbonate mineralization process, 21 as well as to screen the incorporation of amino acids into the crystalline lattice of calcite. 22 The method is fast and very simple.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, as the supplies of biological additives are usually limited, this method often needs to be scaled down by using microdroplets or microfluidic devices. 15 A slightly different method, using supersaturated calcium carbonate or calcium bicarbonate solution, also found application in the study of the influence of macromolecules on calcium carbonate mineralization. 23,24 However, in the field of calcium carbonate biomineralization, most studies employ a vapordiffusion technique also known as a slow-diffusion method.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Counter-Diffusion System as an in Vitro Model in the Investigation of Proteins Involved in the Formation of Calcium Carbonate Biominerals

Bielak

Różycka

Zoglowek

et al. 2021

Crystal Growth & Design

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Mineralization in living organisms is highly regulated by the synergistic action of many macromolecules, where distinctive proteins play the role of direct modulators of the crystal growth. The number of methods for in vitro biomineralization studies in the presence of proteins is limited due to the influence of the environment on their functionality. We focus on a counter-diffusion system in the biomineralization of calcium carbonate that is based on the diffusion of salt solutions through a gel-matrix supplemented with the protein of interest. This article discusses the background of the system, physical principles, matrices commonly in use, advantages, limitations, variations, and our own experience. Special attention is paid to the overview of already published studies that applied the counter-diffusion system as a model for investigation of the biomineralization of calcium carbonate. The system has great potential to be widely used in the analysis of biomineralization-associated proteins in vitro and the biomineralization process itself. This perspective recalls the most important theoretical basis as well as practical application of the system for specialists in various fields of biomineralization.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Counter-Diffusion System as an in Vitro Model in the Investigation of Proteins Involved in the Formation of Calcium Carbonate Biominerals

Bielak

Różycka

Zoglowek

et al. 2021

Crystal Growth & Design

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“…In this context, hydrogels also have relevance in biomineralization, which is the process by which organisms deposit in a controlled way mineral phases producing composite inorganic/organic biominerals, such as bones, teeth, and mollusk shells. − The biominerals have properties optimized for the specific function they have to carry out, which so far are impossible to reproduce by laboratory activities. The experimentally proved dogma of biomineralization is that the deposition of the mineral phase occurs in a highly viscous or gel environment. , This observation has stimulated the study of the formation of biominerals in hydrogels, using both synthetic and natural (macro)molecular gelators. Examples of natural physical gelators are biopolymers of polysaccharides such as agarose, pectin, and cellulose, as well as proteins such as collagen, gelatin, and silk fibroin .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The experimentally proved dogma of biomineralization is that the deposition of the mineral phase occurs in a highly viscous or gel environment. 38,41 This observation has stimulated the study of the formation of biominerals in hydrogels, using both synthetic and natural (macro)molecular gelators. Examples of natural physical gelators are biopolymers of polysaccharides such as agarose, pectin, and cellulose, as well as proteins such as collagen, gelatin, and silk fibroin.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supramolecular Hydrogels with Properties Tunable by Calcium Ions: A Bio-Inspired Chemical System

Giuri

Jurković

Fermani

et al. 2019

ACS Appl. Bio Mater.

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Boc-L-DOPA(OBn) 2 -OH is a simple synthetic molecule that promotes hydrogelation through electrostatic and π−π stacking interactions. Hydrogelation can occur in alkaline conditions by the use of triggers. Four hydrogels were prepared varying the base, NaOH or Na 2 CO 3 , and the trigger, GdL or CaCl 2 . When the hydrogel formed in the presence of Na 2 CO 3 and CaCl 2 , the concomitant production of CaCO 3 crystals occurred, generating an organic/inorganic composite material. It was observed that the hydrogel once selfassembled preserved its status even if the trigger, the calcium ions, was removed. The viscoelastic behavior of the hydrogels was analyzed through rheological experiments, which showed a solid-like behavior of the hydrogels. The corresponding xerogels were analyzed mainly by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). They showed differences in structure, morphology, and fiber organization according to their source. This research presents a hydrogel system that can be applied as a soft biomaterial for tissue engineering, cosmetics, food, and environmental science. Moreover, it represents a model for biomineralization studies in which the hydrogel structure can act as an analogue of the insoluble matrix that confines the calcification site, provides Ca 2+ , and preserves its structure.

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“…In the present work, the MZW of solutions supersaturated with respect to MAP was investigated in experiments in batch, stirred solutions at pH 6.50, 25 °C. Both the onset of precipitation and the rates of precipitation were measured at conditions of constant supersaturation, ensuring maximum accuracy and reproducibility . The crystallizer operating at constant supersaturation is a continuously operating crystallizer allowing for the removal of N and P from wastewaters, using the continuous addition of magnesium which is present in wastewaters at low concentrations, along with ammonia and phosphorus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus recovery from simulated municipal wastewater (SMW) through the crystallization of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MAP)

Mpountas

Papadakis

Koutsoukos

2017

J of Chemical Tech & Biotech

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BACKGROUND Phosphorus and nitrogen recovery from municipal and/or industrial wastewater treatment plants in the form of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH4PO4·6H2O, MAP, Struvite) is an attractive alternative for the valorization of wastes. Although efforts have been focused on the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients from wastewater at alkaline pH, removal of these nutrients in weakly acid pH is still challenging. The advantage of acid pH is that the precipitation of heavy metals in the form of insoluble hydroxides is avoided provided that their concentrations are relatively low. RESULTS The metastable zone width of solutions, supersaturated with respect to MAP at pH 6.50 was investigated. The kinetics of MAP formation both in unseeded and in seeded solutions was investigated in batch reactors at constant supersaturation. The rates of crystal growth of MAP on seed crystals showed a parabolic dependence on the relative supersaturation. The concentration of the inoculating seed crystals affected the rates of crystal growth. CONCLUSIONS It is possible to crystallize MAP at pH values of 6.50 provided that the supersaturation is sufficient. From the rate dependence on relative supersaturation (parabolic) it was concluded that the crystal growth mechanism was surface diffusion controlled for the integration of the growth units at the active crystal growth sites. Secondary nucleation, depending on the solution supersaturation, was observed within the stable domain of the metastable zone. The morphology of MAP seed crystals remained unchanged, while the mean particle size increased reaching comparable sizes irrespective of the degree of supersaturation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry

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Biological Crystallization

Cited by 9 publications

References 235 publications

Counter-Diffusion System as an in Vitro Model in the Investigation of Proteins Involved in the Formation of Calcium Carbonate Biominerals

Counter-Diffusion System as an in Vitro Model in the Investigation of Proteins Involved in the Formation of Calcium Carbonate Biominerals

Supramolecular Hydrogels with Properties Tunable by Calcium Ions: A Bio-Inspired Chemical System

Phosphorus recovery from simulated municipal wastewater (SMW) through the crystallization of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MAP)

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