Nov. 04, 2009

Fluorapatite-Gelatine Nanocomposites

Fluorapatite-gelatine nanocomposites serve as model system for mineralization steps of teeth and bone. The biomimetic composites show a hierarchical structural shape development starting from a hexagonal prismatic seed via dumbbell states and ending up with slightly notched spheres. This complex morphogenesis is caused by protein fibrils which are integrated into the nanocomposite superstructure. As evidenced by electron holography an intrinsic electric dipole field is generated by parallel alignment of nanocomposite subunits. more