Polymer induced liquid-precursor process

Burwell, A.K., Thula-Mata, T., Gower, L.B., HabeUtz, S., Kurylo, M., Ho, S.P., et til. Functional remineraUzation of dentin lesions using polymer-induced liquid-precursor process. PLoS ONE 7, e38852 (2012)... 

Such a liquid-liquid phase separation of a saturated crystallization solution can be induced with tiny amounts (pgmL range) of polyelectrolytes like PAsp or PAA in case of CaCOa. Gower et al. proposed the term polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) process for the formation process of this type of precursors [137]. They can be observed as little droplets in the crystallization solution by light microscopy. Such liquid precursor droplets were independently observed with anionic dextran sulfate as additive [138]. The role of the polymer appears to be the sequestering and concentration of the calcium ions while simultaneously delaying crystal nucleation and growth to form a metastable solution. 

A recent polymer-assisted biominerlization method that has shown great effectiveness in remineraUzing carious dentin is based on a Polymer Induced Liquid Precursor (PILP) methodology (Fig. 9.3) [132, 133]. The PILP process is based on the action of minute amounts of acidic polypeptides which are added to a remineralization solution. The anionic polymer functions be sequestering... 

Thula-Mata, T., BurweU, A., Gower, L.B., HabeUz, S., Marshall, G.W. Remineialization of artificial dentin lesions via the Polymer-Induced Liquid-Precursor (PILP) Process. In Materials Research Society symposia proceedings Materials Resettfch Society, vol. 1355, p. 1114 (2011)... 

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