Innovative Materials Processing Strategies: A Biomimetic Approach

Many organisms construct structural ceramic (biomineral) composites from seemingly mundane materials; cell-mediated processes control both the nucleation and growth of mineral and the development of composite microarchitecture. Living systems fabricate biocomposites by: (i) confining biomineralizati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1992-02, Vol.255 (5048), p.1098-1105
Main Authors: Heuer, A. H., Fink, D. J., Laraia, V. J., Arias, J. L., Calvert, P. D., Kendall, K., Messing, G. L., Blackwell, J., Rieke, P. C., Thompson, D. H., Wheeler, A. P., Veis, A., Caplan, A. I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
360600 - Other Materials
550200 - Biochemistry
Animals
Applied sciences
BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIOMIMETIC PROCESSES
Biomimetics
Biomineralization
Biomineralogy
BIOSYNTHESIS
Biotechnology
Bone Matrix
Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses
Calcification, Physiologic
CARBOHYDRATES
Cellular biology
Cements
Ceramic industries
Ceramic materials
Ceramics
Chemical industry and chemicals
Chickens
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Crystal growth
Crystallography
CRYSTALS
Exact sciences and technology
Frontiers in Materials Science
Inhibition
MATERIALS
MATERIALS SCIENCE
MINERALIZATION
MINERALS
Miscellaneous
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
MOLECULAR CRYSTALS
Organic Chemistry
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Organic foods
Polymers
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
Space life sciences
SYNTHESIS
Technical ceramics
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
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Description
Summary:Many organisms construct structural ceramic (biomineral) composites from seemingly mundane materials; cell-mediated processes control both the nucleation and growth of mineral and the development of composite microarchitecture. Living systems fabricate biocomposites by: (i) confining biomineralization within specific subunit compartments; (ii) producing a specific mineral with defined crystal size and orientation; and (iii) packaging many incremental units together in a moving front process to form fully densified, macroscopic structures. By adapting biological principles, materials scientists are attempting to produce novel materials. To date, neither the elegance of the biomineral assembly mechanisms nor the intricate composite microarchitectures have been duplicated by nonbiological processing. However, substantial progress has been made in the understanding of how biomineralization occurs, and the first steps are now being taken to exploit the basic principles involved.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1546311