A New Paradigm for Biomineral Formation: Mineralization via an Amorphous Liquid-Phase Precursor

Biologically mineralized tissues are well recognized for their unusual crystal morphologies and hierarchically organized composite structures. The soluble acidic macromolecules associated with biominerals are thought to play an important role in modulating the mineral morphology. Our in vitro studies, which use acidic polypeptide additives to modify crystal growth of calcium-based minerals, have demonstrated a crystallization mechanism that...