Science, Vol 198, Issue 4322, 1164-1166
Copyright © 1977 by American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fibrous apatite grown on modified collagen
E Banks,
S Nakajima,
LC Shapiro,
O Tilevitz,
Alonzo JR,
and
RR Chianelli
Fibrous apatite has been grown by the enzymatic hydrolysis of calcium beta-glycerophosphate on reconstituted calfskin collagen tapes which had been modified by the addition of a phosphoprotein, phosvitin, in the presence of a cross-linking agent, dimethylsuberimidate. The deposits were identified as a carbonate-bearing hydroxyapatite by x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron micrographs confirmed their fibrous character.