6533b820fe1ef96bd12790a7
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Flexible minerals: self-assembled calcite spicules with extreme bending strength.
Werner E.g. MüllerTomas P. CorralesDieter SchollmeyerIngo LieberwirthMichael KapplMartin PanthöferWolfgang TremelFilipe NatalioFilipe NatalioHans-jürgen Buttsubject
CalciteSpiculeMultidisciplinaryMaterials scienceCalcareous spongebiologySyconMineralogybiology.organism_classificationCathepsinsAmorphous solidCalcium CarbonatePoriferachemistry.chemical_compoundSponge spiculechemistryFlexural strengthMicroscopy Electron TransmissionSpectroscopy Fourier Transform InfraredAnimalsNanoparticlesStress MechanicalComposite materialBiomineralizationdescription
Flexi-Fibers Glass or metal fibers can show incredible flexibility. Natalio et al. (p. 1298 ; see the Perspective by Sethmann ) used the protein silicatein-α, which is responsible for the biomineralization of silicates in sponges, to guide the formation of spicules made of calcite. These synthetic spicules could be bent to a high degree because of their inherent elasticity, whilst retaining the ability to guide light.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-03-16 | Science (New York, N.Y.) |