Amorphous-to-crystal transition in the layer-by-layer growth of bivalve shell prisms - Aix-Marseille Université
Journal Articles Acta Biomaterialia Year : 2022

Amorphous-to-crystal transition in the layer-by-layer growth of bivalve shell prisms

Julien Duboisset
Arthur Baroni
Julius Nouet

Abstract

Biomineralization integrates complex physical and chemical processes bio-controlled by the living organisms through ionic concentration regulation and organic molecules production. It allows tuning the structural, optical and mechanical properties of hard tissues during ambient-condition crystallisation, motivating a deeper understanding of the underlying processes. By combining state-of-the-art optical and X-ray microscopy methods, we investigated early-mineralized calcareous units from two bivalve species, Pinctada margaritifera and Pinna nobilis, revealing chemical and crystallographic structural insights. In these calcite units, we observed ring-like structural features correlated with a lack of calcite and an increase of amorphous calcium carbonate and proteins contents. The rings also correspond to a larger crystalline disorder and a larger strain level. Based on these observations, we propose a temporal biomineralization cycle, initiated by the production of an amorphous precursor layer, which further crystallizes with a transition front progressing radially from the unit center, while the organics are expelled towards the prism edge. Simultaneously, along the shell thickness, the growth occurs following a layer-by-layer mode. These findings open biomimetic perspectives for the design of refined crystalline materials.
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hal-03527747 , version 1 (30-03-2022)

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Julien Duboisset, Patrick Ferrand, Arthur Baroni, Tilman Grünewald, Hamadou Dicko, et al.. Amorphous-to-crystal transition in the layer-by-layer growth of bivalve shell prisms. Acta Biomaterialia, 2022, 142, pp.194-207. ⟨10.1016/j.actbio.2022.01.024⟩. ⟨hal-03527747⟩
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