Bridged Nanocrystals in Biominerals and Their Biomimetics: Classical Yet Modern Crystal Growth on the Nanoscale

Abstract

We demonstrate nanoscale architectures in real biominerals and their biomimetics. Mimicking biomineralization, that is, crystal design in association with organic molecules, has been demonstrated in recent years. Although the macroscopic morphologies in real biominerals and biomimetics have been extensively studied, the nanoscopic structures in terms of the crystal growth are still not fully understood. We show that both materials form oriented architectures of bridged nanocrystals with incorporated organic polymers. The growth of nanocrystals by association with polymers is a significant step for the understanding and developing of crystal growth. The strategy could be applied to various systems in nanoscale crystal growth leading to functional materials.

Biomimetic design of materials and biomaterials inspired by the structure of nacre

“…It was shown that a nacre-mimetic architecture could be synthetically reproduced through an appropriate combination of inorganic crystals and organic polymers (Oaki & Imai 2005;Oaki et al 2006). The specific interactions existing between the two components during crystallization of K 2 SO 4 in the presence of poly(acrylic acid) generate the nanoscopic architecture (20 nm diameter blocks), and the switching between the modes of growth explains the formation of the macroscopic structure (microscopic nacre-like layered structure; Oaki & Imai 2005).…”

Bio-inspired synthesis of polymer–inorganic nanocomposite materials in mild aqueous systems

“…The plate-like CaCO 3 crystals are composed of bridged nanocrystals that have a similar orientation. 9 The cooperative involvement of insoluble and soluble macromolecules during crystallization of inorganic compounds seems to be a general strategy in biomineralization. 1 Nacre formation was mimicked by Kato et al [10][11][12][13][14] to synthesize polymer-CaCO 3 thin film composites.…”

Self-organization of hollow-cone carbonate crystals through molecular control with an acid organic polymer

“…It is inferred that the mesocrystal structures were formed from the following processes. 17 The adsorption of PAA inhibits crystal growth. Because the growth is not completely inhibited by the adsorption of PAA under the supersaturated condition, the growth is restarted by the formation Biomimetic crystal design by molecular control Y Oaki et al of a nanoscale mineral bridge.…”

“…In previous works, we found that oriented nanocrystals mixed with organic macromolecules produce macroscopic shapes with single-crystalline orientation. [15][16][17] These mesocrystal structures have attracted considerable interest in recent years. [18][19][20] Learning from biomineralization, mesocrystal structures have been synthesized with synthetic organic molecules.…”

“…The formation of mesocrystals, or oriented nanocrystals, is induced by controlled crystal growth in the presence of organic molecules (Effect II). [17][18][19][20]30,31 The organic molecules and polymers can adsorb onto the crystal faces. Because the adsorption of organic molecules onto crystals induces the segmentation of crystal growth through periodical inhibition, mesocrystal structures are formed with the incorporation of organic molecules.…”