include calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. Then it gives a presentation of
the hierarchical structure of calcium carbonate-based and calcium phosphate-based
biominerals, e.g., mollusc shell, pearl, carp otolith, tooth, and bone. Moreover, the
chapter explains the principles of calcium carbonate mineralization from the
aspects of the effects of additives and templates; it also gives some explanations
to the principles of calcium phosphate mineralization.
Biomineralization involves the selective extraction and uptake of elements from
the local environment and their incorporation into functional structures under
strict biological control. The formation of hard bioinorganic materials such as
bones and shells is univocally recorded in the fossil record; the biological processes
were involved in inorganic mineralization dating as far back as 3,500 million years.
Moreover, the fossils contain a record not only of the distant biology but also of the
local climate and chemical conditions of the marine environment in the history
(Mann 2001).
(Lowenstam and Weiner 1989) inaugurated modern studies on mineralization
with the theory of “minerals formed by organisms,” emphasized the important
character of macromolecules in the mineralization process, also pointed out the
differences between “biological controlled mineralization” and “biologically
induced mineralization”. Compared with an inorganic mineral, which is hard and
stiff but brittle, biominerals are relatively soft, compliant but tough, so there is
much to be gained in the mechanical design of life if the “organic toughening” is
combined with the “inorganic strength.” Biomineralization offers an organism
more than just structural support and mechanical strength. As nature’s master
builder, it is involved in a wide variety of important biological functions such as:
protection, motion, cutting and grinding, buoyancy, storage, optical, magnetic and
gravity sensing. In summary, the big picture of biomineralization is one that
contains many different subjects and perspectives, ranging from the global aspects
of the earth sciences to the local niches of biology and the selection pressures on
materials design, and to the anatomy of tissues and the microscopic world of cells.
The well-designed morphologies and hierarchical structure make biomaterials
very attractive to the researchers. The architecture emerging from self-organization
under ambient conditions provides a sophisticated model for materials science. The
design of nanostructure materials with tailored morphologies, such as particles,
rods, wires, tubes, and sheets, has attracted much interest because of their potential
applications. Controlled assembly into a three-dimensional architecture is an
important challenge in the broad application of the materials. Many biomaterials
structure, such as nacre, abalone, ivory, human bone, tooth, etc., have been
investigated. These materials, exhibiting amazing morphology and structure, have
great potential as functional materials. The structural study of the fascinating
biomaterials is important in biology, and may provide novel ideas for the design
of synthetic materials. The structural investigation of the biomaterials can also
consummate the biomineralization theory (Oaki & Imai 2005).
142
Q. Feng
the hierarchical structure of calcium carbonate-based and calcium phosphate-based
biominerals, e.g., mollusc shell, pearl, carp otolith, tooth, and bone. Moreover, the
chapter explains the principles of calcium carbonate mineralization from the
aspects of the effects of additives and templates; it also gives some explanations
to the principles of calcium phosphate mineralization.
Biomineralization involves the selective extraction and uptake of elements from
the local environment and their incorporation into functional structures under
strict biological control. The formation of hard bioinorganic materials such as
bones and shells is univocally recorded in the fossil record; the biological processes
were involved in inorganic mineralization dating as far back as 3,500 million years.
Moreover, the fossils contain a record not only of the distant biology but also of the
local climate and chemical conditions of the marine environment in the history
(Mann 2001).
(Lowenstam and Weiner 1989) inaugurated modern studies on mineralization
with the theory of “minerals formed by organisms,” emphasized the important
character of macromolecules in the mineralization process, also pointed out the
differences between “biological controlled mineralization” and “biologically
induced mineralization”. Compared with an inorganic mineral, which is hard and
stiff but brittle, biominerals are relatively soft, compliant but tough, so there is
much to be gained in the mechanical design of life if the “organic toughening” is
combined with the “inorganic strength.” Biomineralization offers an organism
more than just structural support and mechanical strength. As nature’s master
builder, it is involved in a wide variety of important biological functions such as:
protection, motion, cutting and grinding, buoyancy, storage, optical, magnetic and
gravity sensing. In summary, the big picture of biomineralization is one that
contains many different subjects and perspectives, ranging from the global aspects
of the earth sciences to the local niches of biology and the selection pressures on
materials design, and to the anatomy of tissues and the microscopic world of cells.
The well-designed morphologies and hierarchical structure make biomaterials
very attractive to the researchers. The architecture emerging from self-organization
under ambient conditions provides a sophisticated model for materials science. The
design of nanostructure materials with tailored morphologies, such as particles,
rods, wires, tubes, and sheets, has attracted much interest because of their potential
applications. Controlled assembly into a three-dimensional architecture is an
important challenge in the broad application of the materials. Many biomaterials
structure, such as nacre, abalone, ivory, human bone, tooth, etc., have been
investigated. These materials, exhibiting amazing morphology and structure, have
great potential as functional materials. The structural study of the fascinating
biomaterials is important in biology, and may provide novel ideas for the design
of synthetic materials. The structural investigation of the biomaterials can also
consummate the biomineralization theory (Oaki & Imai 2005).
142
Q. Feng