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

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。该项目描述了澳大利亚海洋石鳖（软体动物：多板纲）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精制而成的复杂复合材料。最初由多糖甲壳素组成，这些极其坚硬的牙齿被钙和铁的化合物矿化，并用于挖掘它们赖以生存的岩石，因为它们吃草觅食。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。

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.