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Microscopic structure of the polymer-induced liquid precursor for calcium carbonate.


ABSTRACT: Many biomineral crystals form complex non-equilibrium shapes, often via transient amorphous precursors. Also in vitro crystals can be grown with non-equilibrium morphologies, such as thin films or nanorods. In many cases this involves charged polymeric additives that form a polymer-induced liquid precursor (PILP). Here, we investigate the CaCO3 based PILP process with a variety of techniques including cryoTEM and NMR. The initial products are 30-50?nm amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) nanoparticles with ~2?nm nanoparticulate texture. We show the polymers strongly interact with ACC in the early stages, and become excluded during crystallization, with no liquid-liquid phase separation detected during the process. Our results suggest that "PILP" is actually a polymer-driven assembly of ACC clusters, and that its liquid-like behavior at the macroscopic level is due to the small size and surface properties of the assemblies. We propose that a similar biopolymer-stabilized nanogranular phase may be active in biomineralization.

SUBMITTER: Xu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6030133 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Microscopic structure of the polymer-induced liquid precursor for calcium carbonate.

Xu Yifei Y   Tijssen Koen C H KCH   Bomans Paul H H PHH   Akiva Anat A   Friedrich Heiner H   Kentgens Arno P M APM   Sommerdijk Nico A J M NAJM  

Nature communications 20180703 1


Many biomineral crystals form complex non-equilibrium shapes, often via transient amorphous precursors. Also in vitro crystals can be grown with non-equilibrium morphologies, such as thin films or nanorods. In many cases this involves charged polymeric additives that form a polymer-induced liquid precursor (PILP). Here, we investigate the CaCO<sub>3</sub> based PILP process with a variety of techniques including cryoTEM and NMR. The initial products are 30-50 nm amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC)  ...[more]

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