title: Formation of Helically Structured Chitin/CaCO3 Hybrids through an Approach Inspired by the Biomineralization Processes of Crustacean Cuticles.
abstract: Chitin/CaCO3 hybrids with helical structures are formed through a biomineralization-inspired crystallization process under ambient conditions. Liquid-crystalline chitin whiskers are used as helically ordered templates. The liquid-crystalline structures are stabilized by acidic polymer networks which interact with the chitin templates. The crystallization of CaCO3 is conducted by soaking the templates in the colloidal suspension of amorphous CaCO3 (ACC) at room temperature. At the initial stage of crystallization, ACC particles are introduced inside the templates, and they crystallize to CaCO3 nanocrystals. The acidic polymer networks induce CaCO3 crystallization. The characterization of the resultant hybrids reveals that they possess helical order and homogeneous hybrid structures of chitin and CaCO3 , which resemble the structure and composition of the exoskeleton of crustaceans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kajiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D003445:Crustacea / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D034582:Integumentary System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D008903:Minerals; D002686:Chitin; C006903:carbopol 940; D002119:Calcium Carbonate
keywords: biomineralization; calcium carbonate; chitin; liquid crystals; organic/inorganic hybrids