Tuning the Biomineralization Process for Controlling the Nucleation and Oriented Growth of Ca–P Crystals onto Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

Cosme Rodríguez-Valencia, Lourdes Rial, Julia Serra, Pío González, José B. Rodríguez-González, Cintia Mateo-Mateo, and Miguel A. Correa-Duarte

J. Phys. Chem. C 2012, 116, 3400‒3404

Herein we present a biosynthetic approach for the control of the nucleation and oriented growth of Ca–P crystals onto carbon nanotubes. This method based on the adequate modification of a biomimetic process allows the Ca–P growth from amorphous to crystalline phases. Interestingly, carbon nanotube walls have been shown to drive the growth orientation of the inorganic crystals. Furthermore, the growth of these Ca–P crystals occurs from a Ca-rich disorder interface, which is formed on carbon nanotubes during the first incubation steps. These findings are critical and have shown the potential of carbon nanotubes for the production of superior Ca–P structures to mimic the real bone properties.