Nematic ordered cellulose templates mediating order-patterned deposition accompanied with synthesis of calcium phosphates

In a previous study, the nematic ordered cellulose (NOC) templates successfully induced biodirected epitaxial nanodeposition of cellulose nanofibers secreted by Gluconacetobacter xylinus along the orientation of the molecular tracks (Kondo et al. 2002). As an extended concept for the NOC, this article attempts to propose a sort of biomimic mineralization using the template. It combines morphologically controlling process with synthesis of the calcium phosphate as a major component of bones. This process was initially mediated by the modified NOC template having a pair of roles of the ion supply sources and scaffolds for 3D-ordering architecture of the calcium phosphate as a biomineral in the key functions for biomineralization. The successful establishment of such an ordered deposition of the inorganic on the template was confirmed by several surface characterizations such as atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and so on. Moreover, similarly to human bones, the obtained major assemble states of the calcium phosphates exhibited amorphous. The above process using the bifunctional cellulose template can be considered as a biomimic mineralization, which also opens pathways toward preparation of potentially versatile organic–inorganic order-patterned composites under a less energy consumption.