The biomimetics of enamel: a paradigm for organized biomaterials synthesis

The formation of enamel takes place through a sequence of processes that can be mimicked in inorganic materials chemistry. This chapter describes the generic features of enamel biomineralization in terms of a house-building analogy. Four stages are identified: supramolecular preorganization and spatial patterning; interfacial molecular recognition in inorganic nucleation; vectorial crystallization; and pattern evolution and hierarchy. Each of these concepts can be translated into synthetic approaches to the formation of inorganic materials with organized architectures. An example of applying this biomimetic paradigm is described. Supersaturated water-in-oil microemulsions have been used to synthesize microskeletal calcium phosphates by controlled nucleation and vectorial growth in constrained reaction environments. The results of these preliminary studies suggest that biomimetic concepts could be useful in the fabrication of biomaterial implants with controlled porosity and microstructure.