ISSN:
1013-9826
Source:
Scientific.Net: Materials Science & Technology / Trans Tech Publications Archiv 1984-2008
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins play an essential role during biomineralization inbone and engineered tissues. In a previous study [1], we showed that calcite preferentially nucleated onpure elastin fibers. However, the actual cellular ECM fibers are composed of a combination of proteins,primarily collagen, fibronectin and some elastin. Here we follow the calcium carbonate- and calciumphosphate- mineralization process in vitro when these ECM proteins are combined and determine thedifferences between these proteins in the biomineralization process. The surface morphology and mechanicalproperties of the protein fibers during the early stages were probed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) andshear modulation force microscopy (SMFM). The nucleation of the mineral crystals on the protein matriceswas investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Preliminary data showed that the moduli of allprotein fibers increased at the early stages, with collagen having the largest increase in supersaturatedcalcium bicarbonate solution. In metastable calcium phosphate solutions the modulus of the mixedelastin-fibronectin fibres increased to a greater extent than the moduli of the fibers composed of the singleproteins. Longer exposure in the mineral solutions led to the formation of crystals templated along theself-assembled fiber structures
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://www.tib-hannover.de/fulltexts/2011/0528/01/56/transtech_doi~10.4028%252Fwww.scientific.net%252FKEM.361-363.427.pdf
Permalink