Liquid-Crystalline Biomacromolecular Templates for the Formation of Oriented Thin-Film Hybrids Composed of Ordered Chitin and Alkaline-Earth Carbonate

Chem Asian J. 2015 Nov;10(11):2356-60. doi: 10.1002/asia.201500462. Epub 2015 Aug 7.

Abstract

Macroscopically ordered inorganic thin films have been formed on unidirectionally oriented, liquid-crystalline chitin matrices. In the presence of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), unidirectionally oriented chitin films act as templates for the formation of oriented thin-film crystals of alkaline-earth carbonates such as SrCO3 and BaCO3. The morphology and orientation of crystals are dependent on the metal ion concentration. For SrCO3 crystallization, unidirectional thin films and hexagonal-shaped thin films have been deposited from 200 and 25 mm concentration strontium solutions, respectively.

Keywords: alkaline-earth carbonate; biomineralization; chitin; hybrids; liquid crystals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylic Resins / chemistry
  • Barium / chemistry*
  • Carbonates / chemistry*
  • Chitin / chemistry*
  • Crystallization
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Strontium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Carbonates
  • Chitin
  • Barium
  • strontium carbonate
  • carbopol 940
  • barium carbonate
  • Strontium