title: Biomimetic silicification of demineralized hierarchical collagenous tissues.
abstract: Unlike man-made composite materials, natural biominerals containing composites usually demonstrate different levels of sophisticated hierarchical structures which are responsible for their mechanical properties and other metabolic functions. However, the complex spatial organizations of the organic-inorganic phases are far beyond what they achieved by contemporary engineering techniques. Here, we demonstrate that carbonated apatite present in collagen matrices derived from fish scale and bovine bone may be replaced by amorphous silica, using an approach that simulates what is utilized by phylogenetically ancient glass sponges. The structural hierarchy of these collagen-based biomaterials is replicated by the infiltration and condensation of fluidic polymer-stabilized silicic acid precursors within the intrafibrillar milieu of type I collagen fibrils. This facile biomimetic silicification strategy may be used for fabricating silica-based, three-dimensional functional materials with specific morphological and hierarchical requirements.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Heonjune
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryou
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Anibal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diogenes
authors.affiliation: The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Cynthia K Y
authors.initials: CKY
authors.lastname: Yiu
authors.affiliation: University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.affiliation: Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Dwayne D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Arola
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.affiliation: Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pashley
authors.affiliation: Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Franklin R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Tay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry; D002347:Carps; D002417:Cattle; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000737:chemistry*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry; D011161:Porifera / Q000737:chemistry; D012824:Silicic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D024042:Collagen Type I; D011073:Polyamines; D012824:Silicic Acid; C063994:polyallylamine; D012822:Silicon Dioxide