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Water-mediated structuring of bone apatite

Abstract

It is well known that organic molecules from the vertebrate extracellular matrix of calcifying tissues are essential in structuring the apatite mineral. Here, we show that water also plays a structuring role. By using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, wide-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy to characterize the structure and organization of crystalline and biomimetic apatite nanoparticles as well as intact bone samples, we demonstrate that water orients apatite crystals through an amorphous calcium phosphate-like layer that coats the crystalline core of bone apatite. This disordered layer is reminiscent of those found around the crystalline core of calcified biominerals in various natural composite materials in vivo. This work provides an extended local model of bone biomineralization.

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Figure 1: The ability of bone apatite particles to adsorb water molecules at their surface is mediated by a hydrophilic surface layer.
Figure 2: The behaviour of the disordered surface layer of bone and biomimetic apatite is similar to that of an amorphous calcium phosphate phase on hydration/dehydration.
Figure 3: Chemical composition of the ACP-like layer in apatites.
Figure 4: Orientation of biomimetic HA platelets.
Figure 5: Bone and biomimetic apatites can organize locally in the presence of water.
Figure 6: The extension of the apatite/water interface depends on the presence of a disordered layer.

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Acknowledgements

We thank IMM Recherche, especially L. Behr, for providing the fresh bone samples, S. Casale for HRTEM observations, A. Anglo and C. Illoul for preparation of bone thin sections for TEM observations, Ö. Sel and C. Boissière for insightful discussions and critical suggestions, A. Délice and C. Paquis for technical assistance, and E. Ruiz-Hitzky for giving us the opportunity to perform dynamic water sorption measurements at the Instituto de Ciencias de Materiales de Madrid (CSIC, Spain). This work was supported by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) through the ANR-09-BLAN-0120-01 ‘NanoShap’ program. The French Région Ile de France SESAME program is acknowledged for financial support (700 MHz spectrometer).

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Y.W. and S.V.E. contributed equally to this work. Y.W., S.V.E., F.M.F., M.S., G.L., G.P-A., C.C., T.A. and N.N. performed the research; F.B. looked for financial support for the project; Y.W., S.V.E., F.M.F., S.C., M.S., G.L., L.B., M-M.G-G., F.B., T.A. and N.N. analysed data; S.V.E., F.M.F., S.C., T.A. and N.N. wrote the paper; F.M.F., S.C., T.A. and N.N. designed the research; T.A. and N.N. wrote the project and supervised the work.

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Correspondence to Thierry Azaïs or Nadine Nassif.

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Wang, Y., Von Euw, S., Fernandes, F. et al. Water-mediated structuring of bone apatite. Nature Mater 12, 1144–1153 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3787

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