Promotion effect of immobilized chondroitin sulfate on intrafibrillar mineralization of collagen

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2020-02, Vol.229, p.115547-115547, Article 115547
• Main Authors: He, Huihui, Shao, Changyu, Mu, Zhao, Mao, Caiyun, Sun, Jian, Chen, Chaoqun, Tang, Ruikang, Gu, Xinhua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calcium Phosphates - chemistry; Calcium Phosphates - metabolism; Chondroitin sulfate; Chondroitin Sulfates - chemistry; Collagen; Collagen - chemistry; Collagen - metabolism; Dentin - chemistry; Dentin - metabolism; Elastic Modulus; Hardness; Hydrogels - chemistry; Intrafibrillar; Mineralization; Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM)
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115547

[Display omitted] •CS was immobilized to collagen to understand its natural function in mineralization.•Immobilized CS promoted collagen intrafibrillar mineralization by recruiting calcium.•STORM indicated CS can promote intrafibrillar heterogeneous nucleation of calcium phosphate.•Fine prospect for CS to reconstruct collagen-mineralized tissues as a natural material. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is widespread in mineralized tissues and is considered to play crucial roles during the mineralization process. However, its role in biomineralization remains controversial. In the present study, CS is immobilized to collagen fibrils to mimic its state in biomineralization. The results demonstrate that immobilized CS on collagen fibrils accelerates calcium phosphate nucleation and significantly promotes collagen mineralization by accumulating calcium ions in collagen fibrils. The stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy results confirm that CS gives the specific nucleation sites for calcium phosphate to preferentially form, the improved intrafibrillar heterogeneous nucleation of calcium phosphate facilitates intrafibrillar mineralization. It is found remarkably accelerated remineralization of CS immobilized demineralized dentin is achieved. This study offers insight on the understanding of the function of the biomacromolecule CS on the biomineralization front. In addition, CS effectively promotes intrafibrillar mineralization, which highlights fine prospect for CS to reconstruct collagen-mineralized tissues as a natural material.