In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of iron and calcium biomaterials in marine chiton teeth

海洋石鳖牙齿中铁和钙生物材料的原位拉曼光谱研究。澳大利亚生物材料科学的未来取决于新材料的发现和改进。本项目研究了澳大利亚海洋石鳖（软体动物：Polyplacophora）摄食装置中的生物材料。像许多生物结构一样，石鳖的牙齿是经过数百万年进化而完善的复杂复合材料。最初由多糖几丁质组成，这些极其坚硬的牙齿被钙和铁化合物矿化，用来挖掘它们赖以生存的岩石，作为它们的食物。了解生物矿化的机制对于设计工业用途的复合材料的合成路线至关重要。

In situ Raman spectroscopic studies of iron and calcium biomaterials in marine chiton teeth. The future of biomaterial science in Australia depends upon the discovery and refinement of new materials. This project characterizes the biomaterials in the feeding apparatus of Australian marine chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Like many biological structures, chiton teeth are sophisticated composite materials that have been refined by evolution over millions of years. Initially composed of the polysaccharide chitin, these extremely hard teeth are mineralized with calcium and iron compounds and used to excavate the rocks on which they live, as they graze for food. Understanding the mechanism of biomineralization is vital for devising synthetic routes to composite materials for industrial purposes.