Structure formation biomineralization

Kooistra WHCF (2007) The evolution of the diatoms. In Baeuerlein E (ed) Handbook of biomineralization biological aspects and structure formation. Wiley, Weinheim... 

Muller, W.E.G., Wang, X.H., Belikov, S.I., Tremel, W., SchloBmacher, U., Natoli, A., Brandt, D., Boreiko, A., Tahir, M.N., Muller, I.M., Schroder, H.C., 2007b. Formation of sih-ceous spicules in demosponges example Suberites domuncula. In Bauerlein, E. (Ed.), Handbook of Biomineralization, vol. 1. The Biology of Biominerals Structure Formation. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, pp. 59-82. 

Since some structural and dynamic features of w/o microemulsions are similar to those of cellular membranes, such as dominance of interfacial effects and coexistence of spatially separated hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanoscopic domains, the formation of nanoparticles of some inorganic salts in microemulsions could be a very simple and realistic way to model or to mimic some aspects of biomineralization processes [216,217]. 

Bone and teeth in mammals and bony fishes all rely on calcium phosphates in the form of hydroxyapatite [Ca5(P04)30H]2, usually associated with around 5% carbonate (and referred to as carbonated apatite). The bones of the endoskeleton and the dentin and enamel of teeth have a high mineral content of carbonated apatite, and represent an extraordinary variety of structures with physical and mechanical properties exquisitely adapted to their particular function in the tissue where they are produced. We begin by discussing the formation of bone and then examine the biomineralization process leading to the hardest mineralized tissue known, the enamel of mammalian teeth. 

The chiton tooth, dentin and the sea urchin larval spicule reflect the enormous diversity of the field of biomineralization. They differ with respect to the nature of their mineral and macromolecular components, as well as their structures. Few underlying common strategies can be recognized the delineation of a dedicated space in which the mineralized tissue forms, the formation of mineral in a preformed framework within this space, and the precipitation of mineral from a supersaturated phase. In this section we will reexamine some of these underlying issues, focussing in particular on the microenvironment in which mineralization occurs. 

As we begin to unravel the mechanisms by which biominerals are produced, more recently efforts have been directed to replicating key fabrication strategies and structural features into materials design. In this introductory section, we present a brief account of the principles involved in the formation of biominerals or if you prefer, the mles of thumb which govern the deposition of solid-state inorganic material. 

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