Polar Ordering of Macromolecular Chains in Composite Materials: Calcium Carbonate and Calcium Oxalate

The formation of composite materials is a fundamental process in nature. Fluorapatite (FAp) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) grown in gelatin can be used as in vitro substitutes for biomimetic composite formation. Here we present our findings about polarity formation in CaCO3 composites grown in macrom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Crystal growth & design 2019-03, Vol.19 (3), p.1592-1598
Main Authors: Sommer, Martin, Burgener, Matthias, Stir, Manuela, Hulliger, Jürg
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The formation of composite materials is a fundamental process in nature. Fluorapatite (FAp) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) grown in gelatin can be used as in vitro substitutes for biomimetic composite formation. Here we present our findings about polarity formation in CaCO3 composites grown in macromolecular gels such as gelatin, agar, and carrageenan, extending the analysis to another calcium mineral: calcium oxalate (CaC2O4). The grown spherical composites are investigated by scanning pyroelectric microscopy (SPEM), which allows a mapping of the polarity of a surface. SPEM measurements revealed bipolar structures for all measured composites, indicative of an underlying mechanism of molecular recognition leading to polar ordering of macromolecules. The process of polarity formation inside such composites can be explained by a Markov-type mechanism. The present results are compared to previously published data on FAp/gelatin composites, showing that they are similar. A new group of biomimetic materials was found that builds up bipolar states, driven by molecular recognition.
ISSN:1528-7483
1528-7505
DOI:10.1021/acs.cgd.8b01236