Conchixes: organic scaffolds which resemble the size and shapes of mollusks shells, their isolation and potential multifunctional applications

Abstract

Molluscan shells are an example of a mineral-based biocomposite material, and most studies to date have focused on understanding their biomineralization mechanisms. Meanwhile, large amounts of these shells are produced as waste globally by seafood which is used by other industries as a source of biogenic calcium carbonates. In this study, we propose a simple methodological approach for isolation of Conchixes, the organic scaffolds that resemble the size and shapes of mollusks shells, using gentle EDTA-based demineralization of the shells. Such mineral-free biological materials have been extracted from selected representatives of marine and fresh water bivalves, as well as from marine and terrestrial gastropods under study. Key pathways to practical applications of molluscan conchixes with regards to pharmacy, cosmetics, feed and feed additives, biomedicine and bioinspired materials science are also discussed.

Forced Biomineralization: A Review

“…Our review of numerous recent scientific publications on biomineralization has revealed emphasis of the overall scientific attention towards calcification [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], biosilicification [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], biomagnetism [ 17 , 18 ], and multiphase biomineralization [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Traditional objects of study continue to include molluscs [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], sea urchins [ 29 ], and skeletal structures such as eggshells [ 30 ], teeth [ 31 , 32 ], and bones [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. While it is understandable to focus on the biomineralizing organisms typically encountered by humans on Earth, this focus tends to overlook a variety of distinct biomineralization pathways seen in extremophiles.…”

Biomaterials from the sea: Future building blocks for biomedical applications

“…Intriguingly, conchixes completely repeat the size and shapes of the shells. In the future, molluscan shells may have broad applications in biomineralization [ 230 ].…”

Progress in Modern Marine Biomaterials Research

“…This effect was attributed to calcium, which, after being administered to the wound tends to enhance the healing process [329,330], though the authors do not rule out the possibility of so-called conchix proteins to be involved in the facilitation of the healing process. Conchix, a term representing the shell organic matrix, has been recently proposed by Ehrlich and co-workers [331] to underline the importance of this organic piece of mollusc shell architecture. A brief summary on conchiolin properties is provided by Table 11.…”