Control of calcium carbonate polymorphism and morphology through biomimetic mineralization by means of nanotechnology

In vitro biomimetic mineralization by means of nanotechnology allows the formation of calcium carbonate polymorphs at low temperatures (<25 degrees C) under a CO(2) atmosphere of 500-1500 ppm. A two-dimensional zinc-ion ordered array (zinc array), which acts as an active-site mimic of carbonic anhydrase, has been prepared by immersing the self-organized monolayer of 3-(2-imidazolin-1-y)propyltriethosilane on mica (ImSi substrate) into aqueous zinc solution. The zinc array mounted on the ImSi substrate catalyzed the conversion from CO(2) to HCO(3) (-), and accelerated the formation of calcium carbonate. In situ X-ray diffraction data of the formed calcium carbonate on the poly(L-aspartate)-coated chitin substrate (pAsp substrate), with calcium ion-recognition sites, demonstrated that the interaction between the zinc array and pAsp substrates formed both vaterite and calcite at low temperature (15 degrees C) and mainly vaterite at 25 degrees C; this interaction also controlled the morphology of calcium carbonate formed on pAsp substrate.     

Stereoselective formation of ansa-metallocenes in reactions of radical-anionic salts of acenaphthylene with lanthanide and calcium halides

ansa-Metallocenes (⁵:⁵-C₂₄H₁₆)M(THF)₂ (M = Sm (1), Yb (2), Ca (3)) and (⁵:⁵-C₂₄H₁₆)MI(THF) (M = Dy (8), Er (9), Tm (10), Lu (11)) were prepared in 50—90% yields by the in situ reactions of two equivalents of potassium acenaphthylenide K⁺C₁₂H₈ ^– with MI₂ or MI₃, respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 were also obtained by direct reduction of acenaphthylene with ytterbium and calcium naphthalenides, respectively. An ESR signal of the acenaphthylene radical anion, which was observed upon dissolution of compound 2 in THF, indicates that the [C₂₄H₁₆]^2– ansa-ligand dissociated into two [C₁₂H₈]^·– radical anions. Hydrolysis of complex 2 in benzene afforded 1,1",3,3"-tetrahydro-3,3"-biacenaphthylene (4) and 3,3",4,4"-tetrahydro-3,3"-biacenaphthylene (5). The reaction of complex 2 with ZrCl₄ and the reaction of compound 3 with Me₃SiCl proceeded with the cleavage of the C—C bond between two acenaphthylene fragments of the [C₂₄H₁₆]^2– ansa-ligand to produce (²-C₁₂H₈)ZrCl₂(THF)₃ (6) and bis(trimethylsilyl)acenaphthene (Me₃Si)₂C₁₂H₈ (7), respectively. Compounds 1—3, 6, 7, and 11 were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The temperature dependence of the ¹H NMR spectrum of compound 11 in tetrahydrofuran is indicative of the dynamic exchange of the solvent molecules in the coordination sphere of the Lu atom. After cooling of the solution to 210 K, the dynamic process was terminated as evidenced by the nonequivalence of the ¹H signals of two acenaphthylene fragments. According to the X-ray diffraction data for complex 11, dimerization of two acenaphthylene radical anions at the Lu atom gave rise to the rac-ansa-metallocene structure. In compound 11, the Lu atom is ⁵-coordinated by two five-membered rings of the acenaphthylene ligands and also by the I atom and the THF molecule. The coordination environment about the Lu atom is a distorted tetrahedron. The average distance between the lutetium atom and the carbon atoms of the five-membered rings is 2.623 .     

Microgel-based engineered nanostructures and their applicability with template-directed layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte assembly in protein encapsulation

A novel strategy for the fabrication of microcapsules is elaborated by employing biomacromolecules and a dissolvable template. Calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) microparticles were used as sacrificial templates for the two-step deposition of polyelectrolyte coatings by surface controlled precipitation (SCP) followed by the layer-by-layer (LbL) adsorption technique to form capsule shells. When sodium alginate was used for inner shell assembly, template decomposition with an acid resulted in simultaneous formation of microgel-like structures due to calcium ion-induced gelation. An extraction of the calcium after further LbL treatment resulted in microcapsules filled with the biopolymer. The hollow as well as the polymer-filled polyelectrolyte capsules were characterized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and scanning force microscopy (SFM). The results demonstrated multiple functionalities of the CaCO(3) core - as supporting template, porous core for increased polymer accommodation/immobilization, and as a source of shell-hardening material. The LbL treatment of the core-inner shell assembly resulted in further surface stabilization of the capsule wall and supplementation of a nanostructured diffusion barrier for encapsulated material. The polymer forming the inner shell governs the chemistry of the capsule interior and could be engineered to obtain a matrix for protein/drug encapsulation or immobilization. The outer shell could be used to precisely tune the properties of the capsule wall and exterior. [Diagram: see text] Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) image of microcapsules (insert is after treating with rhodamine 6G to stain the capsule wall).     

胆汁酸盐对胆红素钙沉淀过程的影响

研究了六种人胆汁主要胆汁酸盐对胆红素钙沉淀形成过程的影响。用曲线拟合法处理数据取得热力学及动力学参数。结果表明,六种胆汁酸盐都表现动力学和热力学抑制,而且抑制作用有浓度依赖关系。在一定条件下出现诱导期。虽然不同胆汁酸盐的作用结果相似,但在相同条件下,二羟基胆汁酸和三羟基胆汁酸影响程度不同。     

Physico-chemical and thermochemical studies of the hydrolytic conversion of amorphous tricalcium phosphate into apatite

The conversion of amorphous tricalcium phosphate with different hydration ratio into apatite in water at 25 °C has been studied by microcalorimetry and several physical-chemical methods. The hydrolytic transformation was dominated by two strong exothermic events. A fast, relatively weak, wetting process and a very slow but strong heat release assigned to a slow internal rehydration and the crystallization of the amorphous phase into an apatite. The exothermic phenomenon related to the rehydration exceeded the crystalline transformation enthalpy. Rehydration occurred before the conversion of the amorphous phase into apatite and determined the advancement of the hydrolytic reaction. The apatitic phases formed evolved slightly with time after their formation. The crystallinity increased whereas the amount of HPO₄²⁻ ion decreased. These data allow a better understanding of the behavior of biomaterials involving amorphous phases such as hydroxyapatite plasma-sprayed coatings.     

LB膜诱导下草酸钙晶体的生物矿化研究

草酸钙（CaC２O４）结石是生物体内异常矿化形成的产物，是泌尿系结石的主要组成部分犤１犦。它形成于泌尿系统中尿路表皮细胞上犤２犦。磷脂的Langmuir－Blodgett（LB）膜是生物细胞膜的简化模拟体系犤３犦。用磷脂LB膜作为模板来研究CaC２O４晶体的形成过程，比在水溶液中更能接近CaC２O４结石在生物体内细胞膜表面形成的真实情况，将有助于对尿路结石的形成及防治的研究犤４犦。尿大分子硫酸软骨素A（C４S）存在于尿液中，但不存在于CaC２O４结石中。在结石病人尿液中C４S的含量明显低于正常人尿液中的含量，因此推测其在体内…     

Calorimetric studies of refractory corundum

Calorimetry has been used in the investigations of calcium aluminate materials produced as a binder for aluminate-corundum composites of high refractoriness. The kinetics and of hydration process was thus characterized and the optimum compositions of initial binders and cement-corundum refractory filler blends could be selected for further tests. The acceleration of heat evolution - the shortening of so-called induction period and relatively high heat output in the presence of corundum was observed. It means the acceleration of hydration process, that is early crystallisation of hydration products and subsequent further dissolution of initial anhydrous aluminate phases. In the presence of fine grained corundum particles these phenomena should be attributed to the nucleating effect of fine corundum particles. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Surface modified precipitated calcium carbonates at a high degree of dispersion

Calcium carbonates of different degrees of surface hydrophobicity were obtained when sorbic acid or polyoxyethylene glycol were present during the precipitation. In the presence of trace amounts of divalent cations carbonates with high surface hydrophilicity and improved monodisperse character are obtained. Surface modification of the calcium carbonates by several proadhesive compounds can markedly improve the chemical affinity of the carbonates to polymers. Very effective are isostearoyl titanate and two polyoxyethylene compounds. Precipitated calcium carbonates modified with 2 to 3 percent (wt/wt) of isostearoyl titanate increased the tensile strenght of butadiene-styrene rubber by approximately 100%. Polyurethane is only strengthened when 30 wt/wt of a filler are introduced independently of the type proadhesive compounds. The best strength and hysteresis of polyurethanes are obtained with calcium carbonate modified with 2 percent (wt/wt) of polyoxyethylene glycol.     

Thermodynamics of electrolyte solutions. The system HCl + CaCl2 + H2O at 298.15°K

Activity coefficients of hydrochloric acid have been determined from electromotive-force measurements of cells containing mixtures of hydrochloric acid and calcium chloride at constant total ionic strengthsI=0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mole-kg^–1 at 298.15°K. Interpretations based on Scatchard's and Pitzer's equations indicate that Pitzer's equations probably provide a more convenient guide to the thermodynamic properties of the mixed-electrolyte solutions. Activity coefficients for calcium chloride were derived from these equations.     

2型糖尿病患者血清钙镁与甲状腺激素含量变化及临床意义

为了监测 2型糖尿病人血清钙、镁和甲状腺激素含量 ,分析其临床意义及相关性 ,应用放射免疫分析法测定了 1 1 5例 2型糖尿病及 1 5 0例健康人血清甲状腺激素含量。同时用美国杜邦RXL自动生化仪测定了其血清钙、镁含量。结果表明 ,在 2型糖尿病伴有明显并发症者血镁、FT3水平明显降低 (P <0 0 5 ) ,钙镁两种元素与甲状腺激素水平无明显相关性。 2型糖尿病患者适当补镁对预防其并发症是有益的 ,测定FT3 等可作为判断 2型糖尿病严重程度和估计预后的参考指标。