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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis

Published on: June 24, 2018

Small Charged Molecule-Mediated Fibrillar Mineralization: Implications for Ectopic Calcification.

Haiyan Zheng¹, Mengyao Bian¹, Zihuai Zhou¹

¹Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, China.

|August 12, 2024

Summary

Small charged molecules, not just proteins, can directly cause fibrillar mineralization. This discovery offers new insights into pathological biomineralization and ectopic calcification processes.

Keywords:

biomimetic mineralization ectopic calcification intrafibrillar mineralization small charged molecules type I collagen fibril

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Analysis of Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Vascular Calcification Using In Vitro and In Vivo Models

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Published on: January 27, 2023

Area of Science:

Biomineralization research
Biomaterials science
Biochemistry

Background:

Small biomolecules are crucial in biological processes.
Intrafibrillar mineralization typically requires noncollagenous proteins (NCPs) and polyelectrolytes.
The polymer-induced liquid-like precursor (PILP) process is a known mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if small charged molecules alone can mediate fibrillar mineralization.
To propose a novel mechanism for small molecule-induced mineralization.
To explore potential implications for understanding pathological calcification.

Main Methods:

Utilized small charged molecules (sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium citrate, (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane).
Employed advanced imaging and analysis techniques: Cryo-TEM, AFM, SEM, FTIR, ICP-OES.
Characterized the formation of polyelectrolyte-like collagen complex (PLCC).

Main Results:

Demonstrated direct mediation of fibrillar mineralization by small charged molecules.
Proposed the formation of a polyelectrolyte-like collagen complex (PLCC) via hydrogen bonding.
Observed increased charge, hydrophilicity, and density in PLCC, facilitating CaP precursor attraction.

Conclusions:

Small charged molecules can independently induce fibrillar mineralization.
The PLCC model provides a new mechanism for biomineralization.
This finding may elucidate pathological biomineralization, including ectopic calcification.