Protein-like nanoparticles sort themselves inside growing crystals, enabling controlled release
The tiny bones in your fingers withstand countless taps and swipes thanks to a precise blend of materials. Flexible collagen fibers form the framework, reinforced by hard calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite crystals. This is just one of countless examples in which living organisms weave organic materials directly into inorganic crystals with exquisite precision. In a recent study published in Nature…
Scientists have discovered that tiny protein-like nanoparticles can arrange themselves inside growing crystals, leading to controlled release of material. The study, published in Nature Communications, mimicked how living organisms combine organic and inorganic materials. Researchers created two types of nanoparticles: solid spheres and hollow bubbles, each with different surface chemicals.
As calcite crystals formed, the nanoparticles sorted themselves based on their surface coatings. Sulfate-coated spheres settled near the crystal core, while carboxylate-coated bubbles formed an outer layer. This sorting happened purely due to the nanoparticles' surface chemistry, not their size or shape. The crystal's pH sensitivity allowed for a built-in release mechanism: acid exposure caused the outer layer to release first, followed by the inner core.
This precise control over nanoparticle organization could pave the way for creating multifunctional composite crystals, potentially improving drug delivery systems and other applications.
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