1 research outputs found
Uniaxial hydroxyapatite growth on a selfâassembled protein scaffold
Biomineralization is a crucial process whereby organisms produce mineralized tissues such as teeth for mastication, bones for support, and shells for protection. Mineralized tissues are composed of hierarchically organized hydroxyapatite crystals, with a limited capacity to regenerate when demineralized or damaged past a critical size. Thus, the development of proteinâbased materials that act as artificial scaffolds to guide hydroxyapatite growth is an attractive goal both for the design of ordered nanomaterials and for tissue regeneration. In particular, amelogenin, which is the main protein that scaffolds the hierarchical organization of hydroxyapatite crystals in enamel, ame-logenin recombinamers, and amelogeninâderived peptide scaffolds have all been investigated for in vitro mineral growth. Here, we describe uniaxial hydroxyapatite growth on a nanoengineered amelogenin scaffold in combination with amelotin, a mineral promoting protein present during enamel formation. This bioâinspired approach for hydroxyapatite growth may inform the molecular mechanism of hydroxyapatite formation in vitro as well as possible mechanisms at play during mineralized tissue formation