Inhibition of Struvite Crystallization by Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate in Artificial Urine: Chemical and Physical Aspects of Nucleation and Growth

Abstract

The effect of tetrasodium pyrophosphate on struvite nucleation and growth in the context of infectious urinary stone formation is studied. The crystallization processes occurred in artificial urine, while urease activity was simulated in a chemical way. The spectrophotometric results show that the presence of tetrasodium pyrophosphate causes a delay of struvite nucleation and decrease in growth efficiency. These results are explained on the basis of theoretical chemical speciation analysis of different complexes formed in artificial urine. The obtained results clearly show that the formation of the MgP 2 O 7 2− complex plays the most important role in inhibition of struvite nucleation. It has been also found that tetrasodium pyrophosphate causes changes in struvite morphology and habit.

Struvite Stone Formation by Ureolytic Biofilms

“…Batch experiments have been performed to evaluate (i) the effect of inhibitor or promoter substances on struvite crystallization [7,21,22], (ii) the effect of urease inhibitors [23], (iii) the influence of substances potentially inhibiting microbial colonization and biofilm development by uropathogens [24][25][26], and (iv) the resistance of materials to encrustation [27]. However, batch experiments generally do not simulate the flow conditions present in the urinary tract, and generally do not allow for long-term experimentation and assessments.…”

Time‐Resolved Dynamics of Struvite Crystallization: Insights from the Macroscopic to Molecular Scale

“…Several factors (e.g. saturation state, pH, and the presence of growth modifiers) can influence struvite formation . Growth modifiers ranging from ions and small molecules to large macromolecules can impact crystal growth by altering supersaturation (i.e.…”

“…saturations tate, pH, and the presence of growth modifiers)c an influence struvite formation. [12,[26][27][28][29][30][31] Growth modifiers ranging from ions and small moleculest ol arge macromolecules can impact crystal growth by alterings upersaturation (i.e. forming modifier-solutec omplexes), physically blocking solute attachment by binding to crystals urfaces, or disruptingt he local environment around crystal-solute interfaces.…”

“…Similarly, studies have identified a select number of modifiers (e.g. citrate, phosphocitrate, and pyrophosphate) that influence struvite crystallization. The majority of studies that test putative modifiers of struvite formation employ bulk crystallization assays under quiescent conditions where solute depletion is tracked by changes in solution properties (conductivity, pH), or the net change in average crystal size and morphology is evaluated ex situ by microscopy; however, these techniques are typically time consuming and have limitations that include (but are not limited to) their inability to elucidate mechanisms of growth and modifier action, and to simulate flow conditions encountered in the practical applications described above.…”

In Vitro Study on the Influence of Proline on Struvite Crystals

“…These urea ions combine with the Mg 2+ that is normally present in urine under alkaline conditions, leading to the formation of struvite [7,8]. Naturally formed struvite crystals usually exhibit coffin-like morphology, but when they grow rapidly dendrites can also occur [7,9]. The dendrite form of struvite crystals is particularly dangerous because they damage the epithelium of the urinary tract as they move through it [7].…”