Nanoscale Confinement Controls the Crystallization of Calcium Phosphate: Relevance to Bone Formation

A key feature of biomineralization processes is that they take place within confined volumes, in which the local environment can have significant effects on mineral formation. Herein, we investigate the influence of confinement on the formation mechanism and structure of calcium phosphate (CaP). This is of particular relevance to the formation of dentine and bone, structures of which are based on highly mineralized collagen fibrils. CaP was precipitated within 25–300 nm diameter, cylindrical pores of track etched and anodised alumina membranes under physiological conditions, in which this system enables systematic study of the effects of the pore size in the absence of a structural match between the matrix and the growing crystals. Our results show that the main products were polycrystalline hydroxapatite (HAP) rods, together with some single crystal octacalcium phosphate (OCP) rods. Notably, we demonstrate that these were generated though an intermediate amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) phase, and that ACP is significantly stabilised in confinement. This effect may have significance to the mineralization of bone, which can occur through a transient ACP phase. We also show that orientation of the HAP comparable, or even superior to that seen in bone can be achieved through confinement effects alone. Although this simple experimental system cannot be considered, a direct mimic of the in vivo formation of ultrathin HAP platelets within collagen fibrils, our results show that the effects of physical confinement should not be neglected when considering the mechanisms of formation of structures, such as bones and teeth.     

Calcium Carbonate Polyamorphism and Its Role in Biomineralization: How Many Amorphous Calcium Carbonates Are There?

Although the polymorphism of calcium carbonate is well known, and its polymorphs—calcite, aragonite, and vaterite—have been highly studied in the context of biomineralization, polyamorphism is a much more recently discovered phenomenon, and the existence of more than one amorphous phase of calcium carbonate in biominerals has only very recently been understood. Here we summarize what is known about polyamorphism in calcium carbonate as well as what is understood about the role of amorphous calcium carbonate in biominerals. We show that consideration of the amorphous forms of calcium carbonate within the physical notion of polyamorphism leads to new insights when it comes to the mechanisms by which polymorphic structures can evolve in the first place. This not only has implications for our understanding of biomineralization, but also of the means by which crystallization may be controlled in medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial contexts.     

Effect of Concentration of Structurally-Different Carboxylic Acids on Growth and Aggregation of Calcium Oxalate in Gel Systems

The effect of concentration of structurally-different carboxylic acids such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid （H4edta）, citric acid （H3cit）, tartaric acid （H2tart）, and acetic acid （HOAc） on growth and aggregation of calcium oxalate （CaOxa） in gel systems was comparatively investigated. H2tart and H3cit could change the morphology of cal- cium oxalate monohydrate （COM） and induce the formation of calcium oxalate dihydrate （COD）. H4edta could induce the formation of COD at a lower concentration of 0.33 mmol/L and have the strongest ability to inhibit aggregation of COM. HOAc inhibited COM aggregation only at a higher concentration than 500 mmol/L. With increasing the number of carboxylic groups in an acid or increasing the concentration of carboxylic acid, the capacity of this acid to induce COD formation and to inhibit growth and aggregation of COM crystals increased. That is, this capacity followed the order： H4edta〉H3cit〉H2tart〉 〉HOAc. The result in this work suggested that the presence of H3cit and H2tart in urine played a role in the natural defense against stone formation.     

大豆多糖对尿石矿物草酸钙形成的调控作用

采用水提法从大豆中提取了大豆多糖(SPS),其多糖百分含量为97.38%;平均相对分子质量为115,200,羧基百分含量为13.8%。采用X射线衍射法(XRD)、红外光谱(FTIR)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪(ICP)研究了水溶性大豆多糖(SPS)对草酸钙晶体生长的调控作用。SPS大豆多糖不但可以抑制一水草酸钙(COM)晶体的聚集,而且可以诱导二水草酸钙(COD)晶体形成。当SPS浓度由0增大到0.50g·L-1时,草酸钙晶体由COM完全转变为COD晶体;并且随着多糖浓度的增大,溶解在溶液中的钙离子(可溶性钙)浓度显著增加,草酸钙沉淀的物质的量逐渐减少。这些结果表明,SPS有望成为预防草酸钙结石的一种绿色药物。     

Rosette‐Shaped Calcite Structures at Surfaces: Mechanistic Implications for CaCO3 Crystallization

Biomineralization is believed to be achieved by the intimate cooperation of soluble macromolecules and an insoluble matrix at the specific inorganic–organic interface. It has been reported that positively charged matrices play an important role in controlling the structure of CaCO₃ at surfaces, although detailed mechanisms remain unclear. In this work, we studied the transformation from amorphous CaCO₃ to calcite crystals on surfaces by using thin films of poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and its quaternized form. The positively charged PDMAEMA film was found to possess unique properties for CaCO₃ crystallization: individually separated, single calcite crystals were formed on the PDMAEMA film in the absence of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), while circularly fused calcite crystals were formed in the presence of PAA. The circularly fused (rosette‐shaped) calcite crystals could be changed from a completely packed rosette to a ring‐shaped, hollow structure by tuning the crystallization conditions. A number of factors, such as reaction time, amount of (NH₄)₂CO₃, concentration of PAA, and charge of matrix‐films, were varied systematically, and we now propose a mechanism based on these observations.     

过饱和度、反应物化学计量比及离子强度对草酸钙晶体生长的影响

肾结石是一种普遍的疾病,全球的发病率约为10%,且其复发率高。2003年欧洲的一项统计表明,尿石患者第一次复发率为40%[1]。草酸钙(CaOxa)是肾结石的主要成分,其体外模拟引起了人们广泛的关注[2,3]。然而,普通溶液体系的模拟环境不能充分反映尿石的形成环境,用类似细胞膜的有序分     

非洲绿猴肾上皮细胞的损伤模型及其对草酸钙生长的调控作用

采用H₂O₂对非洲绿猴肾上皮细胞(Vero)进行了损伤, 通过检测细胞存活率、培养基中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)浓度、丙二醛(MDA)释放量和细胞表面晶体粘附分子骨桥蛋白(OPN)的表达量变化, 检测了细胞的损伤程度. H₂O₂对Vero细胞的损伤作用呈现时间依赖性和浓度依赖性|细胞损伤后, MDA释放量增加, SOD浓度降低, OPN表达量显著增加, 导致粘附的晶体量增加. 利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)研究了细胞损伤前后对草酸钙(CaOxa)晶体生长的调控作用. 对照组细胞诱导生成的CaOxa晶体棱角圆钝, 同时含有一水草酸钙(COM)和二水草酸钙(COD)晶体|而损伤细胞诱导生成的晶体形状不规则, 棱角尖锐, 主要为COM晶体, 因此, 细胞损伤后增加了草酸钙结石形成的危险性. 所建立的Vero细胞氧化损伤模型有助于从细胞水平上阐明草酸钙结石的形成机制.     

水溶液体系中钐离子(III)对草酸钙结晶过程影响效应的研究

进行了水溶液体系中三价稀土离子(Sm^3＋)对草酸钙(CaC₂O₄)结晶过程影响效应的研究. 采用微量热法、X射线衍射(XRD)以及扫描电镜(SEM)法, 研究了Sm^3＋对草酸钙结晶过程动力学的影响效应及对草酸钙晶体晶型、形貌、尺寸的调控作用. 微量热研究结果表明, Sm^3＋对草酸钙结晶过程的影响包括对晶体初期成核以及晶体生长过程的影响, 在适宜的浓度(约2.50×10^－5 mol•L^－1)下达到对晶体成核与生长的最佳抑制效果; XRD研究结果表明, Sm^3＋的加入有利于草酸钙二水合物(COD)的生成; SEM形貌研究表明, Sm^3＋对草酸钙晶体的形态、尺寸产生非常显著的调控作用.     

水溶液体系中钐离子(III)对草酸钙结晶过程影响效应的研究

进行了水溶液体系中三价稀土离子(Sm3 )对草酸钙(CaC2O4)结晶过程影响效应的研究.采用微量热法、X射线衍射(XRD)以及扫描电镜(SEM)法,研究了Sm3 对草酸钙结晶过程动力学的影响效应及对草酸钙晶体晶型、形貌、尺寸的调控作用.微量热研究结果表明,Sm3 对草酸钙结晶过程的影响包括对晶体初期成核以及晶体生长过程的影响,在适宜的浓度(约2.50×10-5mol?L-1)下达到对晶体成核与生长的最佳抑制效果;XRD研究结果表明,Sm3 的加入有利于草酸钙二水合物(COD)的生成;SEM形貌研究表明,Sm3 对草酸钙晶体的形态、尺寸产生非常显著的调控作用.     

Phytate Dephosphorylation Products Also Act as Potent Inhibitors of Calcium Oxalate Crystallization

Phytate has been classified as an anti-nutrient, but there are no adverse effects from the consumption of a balanced diet with 1 to 2 g of daily phytate (inositol-hexaphosphate, InsP6) as a calcium magnesium salt, the form naturally present in grains. Furthermore, recent research has shown that phytate consumption may prevent pathological calcifications, such as kidney stones and cardiovascular calcifications. However, many endogenous and exogenous enzymes can hydrolyze phytate to lower inositol phosphates (InsPs) that also have biological activity. We performed a controlled hydrolysis of phytate and identified the products (InsPs) using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The total level of all InsPs was measured using a non-specific methodology. In addition, we evaluated the effects of the InsP6 hydrolysates on calcium oxalate crystallization using scanning electron microscopy and measuring the time needed for the induction of crystallization. Our results indicate that InsP6 and its hydrolysis products functioned as effective inhibitors of calcium oxalate crystallization. Thus, even though InsP6 is hydrolyzed after consumption, the enzymatic products also have the potential to reduce pathological calcifications. Finally, although it is useful to measure the overall level of InsPs in biological fluids, such as urine, there is a need to develop simple analytical methods to quantify the level of individual InsPs.     

酒石酸与La~(3+)对草酸钙结晶的影响

采用X射线衍射(XRD)、傅立叶红外光谱(FTIR)和扫描电镜(SEM)分析了凝胶体系中混合添加剂酒石酸和La~(3+)对草酸钙(Ca Oxa)晶体生长的影响。研究结果显示,酒石酸可以抑制Ca Oxa晶体的生长、聚集,并诱导二水草酸钙(COD)生成;La~(3+)不仅可诱导COD生成,而且可使一水草酸钙(COM)的形貌发生变化;而酒石酸和La~(3+)的联合作用则不仅增强了对COD的诱导能力,并使COM的聚集程度降低、比表面积减小。酒石酸和La~(3+)的联合疗法对尿石病的预防和治疗有较大的参考价值。     

L-半胱氨酸自组装膜诱导草酸钙结晶研究

在CaCl2.H2O和Na2C2O4配制的过饱和溶液中,利用L-半胱氨酸(L-Cys)在金片上形成的自组装膜为模板,研究了草酸钙(CaOxa)在自组装膜上的结晶行为,并探讨了溶液pH对CaOxa晶体组成、晶型及其形貌的影响。采用X射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等技术对CaOxa晶体的结构和形貌进行了表征。实验结果表明:当溶液pH=3.0时,溶液中可以形成一水草酸钙(CaC2O4.H2O,COM)和二水草酸钙(CaC2O4.2H2O,COD)晶体,而在同样pH条件下,在L-Cys自组装膜上只形成COD晶体,表明自组装单层对CaOxa晶体的成核和生长有重要影响。通过改变溶液的pH,在自组装单层上可以得到不同晶型和不同形状的CaOxa晶体。当pH=3.0时得到四方块状的COD晶体,而pH=5.0和pH=7.0时分别得到六边形和拉长六边形的COM晶体。     

Structure Formation in the Crystallization and Annealing of Tetracontane Nanoparticles

Summary: Crystallization, melting and annealing of nanoparticles of tetracontane were simulated via a Monte Carlo method on the second nearest neighbor diamond (2nnd) lattice by including short‐ and long‐range interactions. Nanoparticles can be obtained from an equilibrated tetracontane melt by increasing three periodic lengths to values that are effectively infinite. Nanoparticles, which contain 155 chains of C₄₀H₈₂, have been produced. After a deep quench from 473 K to 298 K, the crystallization process was investigated by the evolution of the density profile, fraction of bonds in the trans state, and the orientational order parameter. The vicinity of the center is less dense and less well ordered than portions of the nanoparticle located further from the center. The crystals form first in the region close to the surface. Each nanoparticle usually contains multiple crystalline domains. A melting phenomenon was observed at a temperature about 365 K when the nanoparticle crystal was heated. Annealing of the multiple domain crystal at 360 K can transform the structure to a more regular one without a grain boundary.

Snapshot of the final structure containing a single domain crystal after 20 million MCS.     

脂质体中不同种类羧酸钾对草酸钙晶体生长的调控作用

首次研究了狼磷脂-水脂质体中不同种类羧酯钾对草酸钙晶体生长的调控作用 。加入一元DAc只诱导一水草酸钙（COM）生成。二元K_2tart在其浓度大于1. 0mmol/L时可以诱导三水草酸钙（COT）生成。而加入三元的K_3cit和四元的 K_2edta后， 在不同的浓度下，可以分别诱导COM，二水草酸钙（COD）和COT的生 成。在低浓度（—3.3-17mmol/L）范围，， COD含量达到100%；而在较高浓度(＞ 17mmol/L)时，COD减少，COT含量增加。在不同的浓度区间，无论是COM含量减少， 还是COT含量增加，或者是COD含量的先增加后减少，均与该羧酸钾浓度的对数呈线 性关系。不同羧酯钾抑制COM生长并诱导COD形成的能力顺序为：K_3cit＞K_2edta ＞＞K_2tart-KAC,诱导COT生长的能力顺序为：K_2tart＞＞K_3cit＞K_2edta＞＞ KAc.由此推测抑制草酸钙结石形成的潜在效率依次为：K_3cit＞K_2edta＞＞ K_2tart＞＞KAc.     

Amorphous Calcium Phosphates: Solvent-Controlled Growth and Stabilization through the Epoxide Route

Calcium phosphates stand among the most promising nanobiomaterials in key biomedical applications, such as bone repairment, signalling or drug/gene delivery. Their intrinsic properties as crystalline structure, composition, particle shape and size define their successful use. Among these compounds, metastable amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is currently gaining particular attention due to its inherently high reactivity in solution, which is crucial in bone development mechanisms. However, the preparation of this highly desired (bio)material with control over its shape, size and phase purity remains as a synthetic challenge. In this work, the epoxide route was adapted for the synthesis of pure and stable ACP colloids. By using biocompatible solvents, such as ethylene glycol and/or glycerine, it was possible to avoid the natural tendency of ACP to maturate into more stable and crystalline apatites. Moreover, this procedure offers size control, ranging from small nanoparticles (60 nm) to micrometric spheroids (>500 nm). The eventual fractalization of the internal mesostructured can be tuned, by simply adjusting the composition of the ethylene glycol:glycerine solvent mixture. These findings introduce the use of green solvents as a new tool to control crystallinity and/or particle size in the synthesis of nanomaterials, avoiding the use of capping agents and preserving the natural chemical reactivity of the pristine surface.     

Synthesis of Stable Silver Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Activities in Room-temperature Ionic Liquids

Stable silver nanoparticles was successfully synthesized by chemical reduction of silver nitrate in an ionic liquid,1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate([BMIM]·BF4) at room temperature.Results of UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy show as-prepared Ag nanoparticles exhibit a typical emission peak at 400―430 nm.By varying the reaction temperature and the precursor concentration,the size and the shape of the silver nanoparticles could be easily controlled under mild conditions.Analyses of trans...     

Active Skeletal Ni Catalysts Prepared from an Amorphous Ni‐Zr Alloy in the Pre‐Crystallization State

Skeletal Ni catalysts were prepared from an amorphous Ni₄₀Zr₆₀ alloy (a‐NiZr) by heating at various temperatures under vacuum, followed by the selective extraction of Zr moieties by an HF treatment. Each sample was characterized by various spectroscopic methods, and the catalytic performance was tested in the hydrogenation of 1‐octene. The differences in preparation temperatures of a‐NiZr strongly affected the catalytic performance of the obtained catalysts, whereby those prepared from heated a‐NiZr in the pre‐crystallization state exhibited higher catalytic activity. Especially, moderate thermal treatment of a‐NiZr at a temperature slightly lower than that for its crystallization, that is, ～573 K, resulted in a significant enhancement of the catalytic activity. Such prepared skeletal Ni catalyst can also be used efficiently for hydrogen generation from aqueous hydrazine.