Numerous small biomolecules exist in the human body and
play roles
in various biological and pathological processes. Small molecules
are believed not to induce intrafibrillar mineralization alone. They
are required to work in synergy with noncollagenous proteins (NCPs)
and their analogs, e.g. polyelectrolytes, for inducing
intrafibrillar mineralization, as the polymer-induced liquid-like
precursor (PILP) process has been well-documented. In this study,
we demonstrate that small charged molecules alone, such as sodium
tripolyphosphate, sodium citrate, and (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane,
could directly mediate fibrillar mineralization. We propose that small
charged molecules might be immobilized in collagen fibrils to form
the polyelectrolyte-like collagen complex (PLCC) via hydrogen bonds.
The PLCC could attract CaP precursors along with calcium and phosphate
ions for inducing mineralization without any polyelectrolyte additives.
The small charged molecule-mediated mineralization process was evidenced
by Cryo-TEM, AFM, SEM, FTIR, ICP-OES, etc., as the
PLCC exhibited both characteristic features of collagen fibrils and
polyelectrolyte with increased charges, hydrophilicity, and density.
This might hint at one mechanism of pathological biomineralization,
especially for understanding the ectopic calcification process.