The role of confined collagen geometry in decreasing nucleation energy barriers to intrafibrillar mineralization.

ABSTRACT: Mineralization of collagen is critical for the mechanical functions of bones and teeth. Calcium phosphate nucleation in collagenous structures follows distinctly different patterns in highly confined gap regions (nanoscale confinement) than in less confined extrafibrillar spaces (microscale confinement). Although the mechanism(s) driving these differences are still largely unknown, differences in the free energy for nucleation may explain these two mineralization behaviors. Here, we report on experimentally obtained nucleation energy barriers to intra- and extrafibrillar mineralization, using in situ X-ray scattering observations and classical nucleation theory. Polyaspartic acid, an extrafibrillar nucleation inhibitor, increases interfacial energies between nuclei and mineralization fluid

SUBMITTER: Kim D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5840387 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature