Structural Relationship between Calcite-Gelatine Composites and Biogenic (Human) Otoconia

Biogenic otoconia (ear dust) are composite materials of calcite with about 2 wt.‐% proteins showing an average longitudinal size of about 10 μm. The tiny biomineral particles are situated in the inner ear (in the maculae) and act as sensors for gravity and linear acceleration. Our comparative study...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2011-12, Vol.2011 (35), p.5370-5377
Main Authors: Simon, Paul, Carrillo-Cabrera, Wilder, Huang, Ya-Xi, Buder, Jana, Borrmann, Horst, Cardoso-Gil, Raul, Rosseeva, Elena, Yarin, Yuri, Zahnert, Thomas, Kniep, Rüdiger
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomimetic synthesis
Biomineralization
Calcite
Human otoconia
Organic-inorganic composites
Structure determination
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Summary:Biogenic otoconia (ear dust) are composite materials of calcite with about 2 wt.‐% proteins showing an average longitudinal size of about 10 μm. The tiny biomineral particles are situated in the inner ear (in the maculae) and act as sensors for gravity and linear acceleration. Our comparative study of calcite–gelatine composites (grown by double diffusion) and human otoconia is based on decalcification experiments, scanning electron microscopy, TEM and X‐ray investigations in order to obtain a complete picture of the 3D structure and morphogenesis of the materials. Otoconia as calcite–protein composites display a cylindrical body with terminal rhombohedral faces intersecting at the pointed ends. As evidenced by TEM on focused ion beam cuts, both the artificial composites and human otoconia show a particular distribution of areas with different volume densities leading to a dumbbell‐shape of the more dense parts consisting of rhombohedral branches (with end faces) and a less ordered, less dense area (the belly region). The peculiar inner architecture of otoconia with its dumbbell‐shaped mass/density distribution is assumed to be necessary for optimal sensing of linear accelerations. The comparative study of otoconia‐shaped calcite–gelatine composites and human otoconia based on in vitro experiments, electron microscopy and X‐ray investigations reveals a detailed picture of the 3D structure and morphogenesis of the materials. Their peculiar inner architecture is characterised by a dumbbell‐shaped mass/density distribution.
ISSN:1434-1948
1099-0682
DOI:10.1002/ejic.201100756