Enzyme Directed Templating of Artificial Bone Mineral

An artificial, in vitro biomineralization process that utilizes a nanofiber gel to as a substrate for biomimetic hydroxyapatite mineralization in three dimensions is presented. The system employs the natural enzyme alkaline phosphatase and a phosphorylated, anionic nanofiber gel matrix to template hydroxyapatite nano-crystals with size, shape, and crystallographic orientation resembling natural bone mineral.