Biomineralization of CaCO3 through the cooperative interactions between multiple additives and self-assembled monolayers

In this paper, the biomineralization of calcium carbonate through the cooperative interactions between self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and multiple soluble additives was first investigated. The polymorphs and morphologies of products were well controlled by the existence of ordered surface and the co-effect of silk fibroin and magnesium ions. It was found that polymorphs and morphologies of products were determined by silk fibroin, magnesium ions had a promotional effect at lower concentration of magnesium ions, while at higher concentration of magnesium ions, the growth of vaterite crystals was stabilized. This work avails us to clarify the exact role of silk fibroin and inorganic ions in the biomineralization mechanism under a mimicking condition approaching the natural environment.