An NMR Study of Biomimetic Fluorapatite - Gelatine Mesocrystals.

ABSTRACT: The mesocrystal system fluoroapatite-gelatine grown by double-diffusion is characterized by hierarchical composite structure on a mesoscale. In the present work we apply solid state NMR to characterize its structure on the molecular level and provide a link between the structural organisation on the mesoscale and atomistic computer simulations. Thus, we find that the individual nanocrystals are composed of crystalline fluorapatite domains covered by a thin boundary apatite-like layer. The latter is in contact with an amorphous layer, which fills the interparticle space. The amorphous layer is comprised of the organic matrix impregnated by isolated phosphate groups, Ca3F motifs and water molecules. Our NMR data provide clear evidence for the existence of precursor complexes in the gelatine

SUBMITTER: Vyalikh A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4626803 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature