Biomimetic mineralization, application

Biomimetic nanocrystalline apatite coatings were deposited on titanium substrates by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE), a technique with potential application in tissue engineering (Visan et al., 2014 Caricato etal., 2014). The targets were prepared from nano-sized, poorly crystalline apatite powders, analogous in composition to mineral bone. For the deposition of thin films, a KrF excimer laser source was used (A = 248 nm,rFWHM < 25 ns). Analyses of the deposited films showed that the structural and chemical nature of the nanocrystalline precursor apatite was preserved. Hence, MAPLE may be a suitable technique for the congruent transfer of a delicate material such as nanohydroxyapatite. 

Some of these biomimetic catalysts have been prepared on inert polymeric and mineral supports (32), These systems are efficient and selective and, at the same time, are practical for preparative and commercial applications. These supported biomimetic catalysts can offer benign synthesis of chemicals, especially if the metals (such as Fe and Mn) can be confined and not leached into the spent materials. 

In this book Song et al (10) described a novel nucleation and mineral growth process to produce a bone-like biomineral con site. The crosslinked gelatin-chitosan blend made by Payne et al fi/J may perhaps be used as biomimetic soft tissue or for bioencapsulation. The sorbitol-based polyesters synthesized by Mei at al (27) and Kulshrestha et al (26) may possibly find applications in tissue engineering. Biswas et al (13) described the preparation and the mechanical properties of modified zein. Fishman et al (12) made pectin-starch and pectin-poly(vinyl alcohol) blends and found them to be strong, flexible films. 

If one would raise the question on how and why the scientists got inspired and went on to pursue nanotechnology applications in the biomedical area, the answer would be profound We just tried to mimic the hierarchical nano-structures of the nature. Some keywords on this bio-mineralization, hydroxyapatite, collagen, biomimetic structures [114] . 

For electrode (conductor/semiconductor) surfaces, mass transport can be controlled with a variety of experimental protocols and the interfacial flux is measured directly via the current response (measured as a function of potential, time, etc.) [1], This is not true of other interfaces, such as minerals and many biomimetic surfaces in contact with the solution. In these instances, fluxes have often been deduced in a convoluted time- and space-averaged manner by determining the accumulation/loss of material in a bulk phase as a function of time. This leads to a considerable loss of dynamic resolution. Furthermore, in some systems, mass transport between the bulk and the interface is difficult to estimate, leading to incorrect mechanistic interpretation, with major implications for practical applications, whether this concerns drug transport across cell membranes or the growth of crystals. 

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