Biomimetic synthesis of struvite with biogenic morphology and implication for pathological biomineralization

• DOI: 10.1038/srep07718
• Publication Date: 2015-01-16T10:16:48Z
• Authors: Han Li; Qi-Zhi Yao; Yu-Ying Wang; Yi-Liang Li; Gen-Tao Zhou
• Keywords: Struvite; Polyaspartic acid; Aspartic acid; Morphology

Recent studies have found that certain urinary proteins can efficiently inhibit stone formation. These discoveries are significant for developing effective therapies disease, but the inhibition mechanism of crystallization remains elusive. In present study, polyaspartic acid (PASP) was employed as a model peptide to investigate effect on and morphological evolution struvite. The results demonstrate selective adsorption/binding PASP onto {010} {101} faces struvite crystals in arrowhead-shaped morphology, which further evolves into X-shaped unusual tabular structures with time. Noticeably, these morphologies reminiscent biogenic morphology. Concentration-dependent experiments show growth inhibitory capacity increases increasing concentration, whereas aspartic monomers do not effect. Considering is structural functional analogue subdomains acid-rich proteins, our reveal play key role regulating morphology residues contribute proteins. potential implications therapeutic agents disease also discussed.