09-5
Chapter One
Solubility Phenomena Related
to Normal and Pathological
Biomineralization Processes
Erich Königsberger and LanChi Königsberger
School of Chemical and Mathematical Sciences, Division of Science and Engineering,
Murdoch University, Murdoch, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Biomineralization, which refers to the complex processes by which organisms form
minerals, is frequently associated with a high degree of regulation on different
hierarchical levels. 'Biologically controlled' mineralization, in which extra-,
inter- and intracellular activities direct the nucleation, growth and morphology
of minerals that form 'normal' biomaterials such as bone and teeth, is
fundamentally different from 'biologically induced' mineralization, which occurs
as a result of interactions between biological activity (affecting e.g. the pH
and composition of secretion products) and the environment. Since there
is little control of the biological system over the type and habit of minerals
deposited, these vary as greatly as the environment ... read full excerpt from Biomineralization: Medical Aspects of Solubility ebook
