Crystallization from a milk-based revised simulated body fluid

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Chemistry
• Biomineralization

Background:

• Simulated body fluid (SBF) is crucial for studying biomineralization and developing biomaterials.
• Investigating novel SBF formulations can optimize precipitation and material synthesis.
• The role of organic additives in SBF crystallization is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of using whole cow's milk as a solvent in a revised simulated body fluid (milk-rSBF).
• To investigate the influence of milk on calcium phosphate crystallization kinetics and precipitate characteristics.
• To compare the effects of milk with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a control.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a milk-based revised simulated body fluid (milk-rSBF) using whole cow's milk.
• Conducting crystallization experiments in a constant-composition double-diffusion device under physiological conditions (pH 7.35-7.40, 37°C, 7 days).
• Utilizing control experiments with standard 4x concentrated SBF (4rSBF) in deionized water and with added BSA.

Main Results:

• Milk-based SBF (milk-rSBF) showed inhibited calcium phosphate crystallization compared to controls.
• Milk components, similar to BSA, co-precipitated with calcium phosphates.
• Both milk and BSA negatively impacted the crystallinity and crystal size of the precipitates, increasing the organic phase content.

Conclusions:

• Whole cow's milk significantly inhibits calcium phosphate crystallization in simulated body fluid.
• Milk proteins, analogous to BSA, interfere with the formation of crystalline calcium phosphates.
• Milk is not suitable for accelerating calcium phosphate precipitation in SBF due to its inhibitory effects.