MICROSTRUCTURE OF ARAGONITE GROWN AT AN AIR-LIQUID INTERFACE

Aragonite particles dispersed in a bioresorbable polymer matrix a re c onsidered to be a good candidate for bone prosthesis materials. It is important to characterize the microstructure of synthetic aragonite us ed for biomedical applications, since the microstructure may influence its integration, resorption and replacement by bone. We studied late stages of aragonite growth, at an air-liquid interface, from a solutio n not doped with additives. Comparison was made between the types of s ynthetic aragonite microstructure and that of aragonite which is found in nature (mollusc shells, gallstones, Earth's crust). The microstruc ture of natural aragonite is unique to certain classes of living organ isms and the understanding of its structure/function relationships may help to select the types of synthetic aragonite for specific biomedic al applications. Three types of synthetic aragonite were observed base d on grain size and grain morphology.