High-Mg calcite nanoparticles within a low-Mg calcite matrix: A widespread phenomenon in biomineralization.

ABSTRACT: During the process of biomineralization, organisms utilize various biostrategies to enhance the mechanical durability of their skeletons. In this work, we establish that the presence of high-Mg nanoparticles embedded within lower-Mg calcite matrices is a widespread strategy utilized by various organisms from different kingdoms and phyla to improve the mechanical properties of their high-Mg calcite skeletons. We show that such phase separation and the formation of high-Mg nanoparticles are most probably achieved through spinodal decomposition of an amorphous Mg-calcite precursor. Such decomposition is independent of the biological characteristics of the studied organisms belonging to different phyla and even kingdoms but rather, originates from their similar chemical composition and a speci

SUBMITTER: Bianco-Stein N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9169743 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature