STUDIES OF BIOMINERALS AND RELATED NOVEL NANOSCALE COMPOSITE-MATERIALS

Biomineralised structures are composite materials formed in diverse bi ological systems. Their composition, distribution and functions are de scribed together with several technological applications. Illustrative examples include the use of coral in reconstructive surgery and the d evelopment of flexible macro-defect-free concrete. Recent studies of b iomineralisation in the chiton Cryptoplax striata have further extende d understanding of the initial stages of iron biomineral formation, a prominent feature of radula teeth structure in the marine molluscs, ch itons and limpets. In the marine gastropod Nerita atramentosa, a novel motif of tooth structure is reported, where granules (300 nm - 1.5 mu m) are embedded in the organic matrix. Further studies of biominerali sation at the nanoscale level, utilising the hollow spherical protein ferritin and several polysaccharides, reveal the nanotechnological pos sibilities of such research, creating varied multi-layered nanocomposi tes and extended arrays.