Issue 21, 2016

Formation of CaCO3 fibres directed by polypeptide vesicles

Abstract

Mineralization behaviour of CaCO3 in the presence of polypeptide vesicles self-assembled from poly(L-glutamic acid)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(L-glutamic acid) (PLGA-b-PPO-b-PLGA) triblock copolymers was studied. Under the mediation of PLGA-b-PPO-b-PLGA vesicles, CaCO3 fibre clusters were obtained. The structure of fibres could be regulated by the mineralization temperature, copolymer composition, copolymer concentration, and Ca2+ concentration. The investigation of the fibre growth process suggested a solution–precursor–solid mechanism via transient amorphous precursors. Since the polypeptide vesicles could serve as both the modifier and template for the formation of amorphous precursors, the properties of amorphous precursors were affected by the vesicular structure. The variation in the fibre structure was ascribed to the different aggregation and transformation behaviours of amorphous particles. These findings can provide useful information for the design of novel inorganic materials with fibrous structures and enrich our existing knowledge of the crystallization process from the amorphous phase.

Graphical abstract: Formation of CaCO3 fibres directed by polypeptide vesicles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Mar 2016
Accepted
19 Apr 2016
First published
20 Apr 2016

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016,4, 3721-3732

Formation of CaCO3 fibres directed by polypeptide vesicles

Y. Lu, C. Cai, J. Lin and Q. Zhuang, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, 4, 3721 DOI: 10.1039/C6TB00759G

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