Syntheses of Biominerals under the Template of Artificial Miomembranes

本项目旨在从分子尺度上阐明生物体内生物矿化发生的机制。主要围绕以下两个方面进行研究：(1)有机模板在生物矿物的形成过程中发挥了怎样的作用；(2)生物矿物质的各种结构与其功能之间的关系。为了解决这些问题，我们采取了利用人工膜作为模板的方法。试图模拟在这种膜上合成生物矿物质。我们将Langmuir-Blodgett （LB）薄膜沉积在固体衬底上作为人工模板。通过在空气-水界面上涂覆两亲性金属配合物制备LB膜。金属配合物具有COOH和NH2等官能团。这些基团被认为是生物有机体中形成生物矿物质的一个指导因素。结果表明，这些官能团的取向和密度对生物矿物的结构起决定性作用。这些尝试可能为理解生物矿物质的形成机制和功能提供新的思路。

This project aimed at clarifying the mechanisms of biomineralization occurring in bioorgnaisms on a molecular scale. The study was focused on the following two aspects : (1) what kind of role organic templates play in the formation of biominerals ; (2) How a variety of structures of biominerals are related to their functions. In order to solve these problems, we took an approach of utilizing artificial membranes as a template. It was attempted to simulate the syntheses of biominerals on such a membrane. As an artificial template, we used Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films deposited onto a solid substrate. The LB films were prepared by spreading amphiphilic metal complexes onto an air-water interface. The metal complexes possessed functional groups such as COOH and NH2. These groups were thought to act as a director in forming biominerals in bioorganisms. As a result, it was shown that the orientation and density of these functional groups played a decisive role in determining the structure of biominerals. These attempts might give an insight to understanding the formation mechanism functions of biominerals.