Structural and Analytical Chemical Analysis of the Organic–Inorganic Components in Biomineralized Tissue

Abstract

Biomineralization is the formation of nanostructured minerals by living cells and organisms [1]. The biological interest in the field of biomineralization is obvious-cells, extracellular matrices, transport, signaling, hormone control and many biomedical implications that have direct bearing on orthopedics, dentistry, urology etc. Materials scientists study mineralized tissues in order to gain inspiration for developing new synthetic composite materials that are based on natural systems. Paleontologists and archaeologists are interested in this field because mineralized tissues make up most of the fossil record and are also major constituents of the archaeological record of our planet [2]. The term “biomineralisation” implies that a mineral phase that is deposited requires or is occasioned by the intervention of a living organism. This can happen in two basic ways, either the mineral phase develops from the ambient environments as it would from a saturated solution of the requisite ions, but requires the living system to nucleate and localize mineral deposition, or the mineral phase is developed under the direct regulatory control of the organism, so that the mineral deposits are not only localized, but may be directed to form unique crystal habits not normally developed by a saturated solution of the requisite ions. Moreover, the shape, size and orientation of the crystals may be controlled by the cells involved. The first type of mineralization was called biologically induced “mineralization” and the second “organic matrix mediated mineralization”. Single-celled organisms and protoctista such as algae may deposit biologically-induced mineral either intra- or extra (inter)-cellularly. The majority of eukaryote matrix-mediated mineralization is extracellular. The variety of structures, as well as the diversity of minerals and macromolecules that make up mineralized tissues, is amazing [2–4].