Mineralization of CaCO3 in the presence of egg white lysozyme

作者：Voinescu Alina E; Touraud Didier; Lecker Alois; Pfitzner Amo; Kunz Werner^*; Ninham Barry W

来源：Langmuir, 2007, 23(24): 12269-12274.

DOI：10.1021/la701892v

The influence of egg white lysozyme on the size, shape, crystallography, and chemical composition of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) particles obtained from aqueous CaCl2-dimethyl carbonate (DMC)-NaOH solutions was studied. At the onset of precipitation, the presence of lysozyme led to much smaller particles (50-400 nm spherical amorphous lysozyme-calcium carbonate particles (Ly-ACC)) than those obtained from lysozyme-free solution. The nanospheres were in some cases aggregated and in addition embedded in a faint network. Their size and interconnection depended on the concentration of egg white lysozyme. When the Ly-ACC particles were left in contact with the mother liquor (CaCl2/DMC/NaOH/lysozyme solution) for 24 h, they transformed directly and exclusively into crystalline calcite. The observed results may be of relevance for a better understanding of the role of lysozyme in the process of eggshell mineralization.

• 出版日期2007-11-20