Biomineralization growth control

Banerjee, I.A., Yu, L. and Matsui, H. (2003) Cu nanocrystal growth on peptide nanombes by biomineralization size control of Cu nanocrystals by tuning peptide conformation. 

Addadi, L., Joester, D., Nudelman, F., and Weiner, S. "Mollusk shell formation A source of new concepts for understanding biomineralization processes". Chem. Eur.. 12(4), 981-987 (2006). Ajikumar, P.K., Lakshminarayanan, R., and Valiyaveettil, S. "Controlled deposition of thin films of calcium carbonate on natural and synthetic templates". Crystal Growth Des. 4(2), 331-335 (2004). 

The synthesis of molecular precursors responsible for tailored nucle-ation and growth is a key feature in the chemical control of biomineralization. Here we highlight recent studies using simplified model systems that aim to identify aspects of solution chemistry important in (1) silica polymerization and aggregation and (2) the morphological design of calcite crystals. 

Calcium is the third most abundant metal (after Fe and Al) in the earth s crust and the fifth most abundant element in the body (after H, O, C, and N). Of all metal ions calcium, Ca, is undoubtedly most often referred to in the biochemical literature. The Ca ion plays a vital role in many processes in living systems including muscle contraction exocytosis cell fusion, adhesion, growth and motility blood cotting microtubule formation nerve excitability membrane transport of molecules intracellular communication hormonal responses biomineralization of bone and teeth photosynthesis immune reactions and enzymatic activation and control. A number of reviews and monographs are available " . 

Many heterogeneous processes such as dissolution of minerals, formation of the solid phase (precipitation, nucleation, crystal growth, and biomineralization), redox processes at the solid-water interface (including light-induced reactions), and reductive and oxidative dissolutions are rate-controlled at the surface (and not by transport) (10). Because surfaces can adsorb oxidants and reductants and modify redox intensity, the solid-solution interface can catalyze many redox reactions. Surfaces can accelerate many organic reactions such as ester hydrolysis (11). 

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