title: Characterization of biominerals in the radula teeth of the chiton, Acanthopleura hirtosa.
abstract: Understanding biomineralization processes provides a route to the formation of novel biomimetic materials with potential applications in fields from medicine to materials engineering. The teeth of chitons (marine molluscs) represent an excellent example of a composite biomineralized structure, comprising variable layers of iron oxide, iron oxyhydroxide and apatite. Previous studies of fully mineralized teeth using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have hinted at the underlying microstructure, but have lacked the resolution to provide vital information on fine scale structure, particularly at interfaces. While transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is capable of providing this information, difficulties in producing suitable samples from the hard, complex biocomposite have hindered progress. To overcome this problem we have used focused ion beam (FIB) processing to prepare precisely oriented sections across interfaces in fully mineralized teeth. In particular, the composite structure is found to be more complex than previously reported, with additional phases (goethite and amorphous apatite) and interface detail observed. This combination of FIB processing and TEM analysis has enabled us to investigate the structural and compositional properties of this complex biocomposite at higher resolution than previously reported and has the potential to significantly enhance future studies of biomineralization in these animals.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (M010), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Charlie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Jeremy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Macey
authors.forename: Peta L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Clode
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008903:Minerals; D008974:Mollusca / Q000737:chemistry; D049916:Polyplacophora / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D058085:Iron Compounds; D008903:Minerals; C094886:goethite; C000499:ferric oxide; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide