This new volume of Methods in Enzymology continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. This volume covers research methods in biomineralization science, and includes sections on such topics as determining solution chemistry, structure and nucleation; probing structure and dynamics at surfaces; and interfaces mapping biomineral and morphology and ultrastructure. - Continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field - Covers research methods in biomineralization science - Contains sections on such topics as and includes sections on such topics as determining solution chemistry, structure and nucleation; probing structure and dynamics at surfaces; and interfaces mapping biomineral and morphology and ultrastructure

Biomineralization is a natural process by which living organisms form minerals in association with organic biostructures to form hybrid biological materials such as bone, enamel, dentine and nacre among others. Scientists have researched the fundamentals of these processes and the unique structures and properties of the resulting mineralized tissues. Inspired by them, new biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have been developed in recent years. Biomineralization and biomaterials: fundamentals and applications looks at the characteristics of these essential processes and natural materials and describes strategies and technologies to biomimetically design and produce biomaterials with improved biological performance. - Provides a thorough overview of the biomineralization process - Presents the most recent information on the natural process by which crystals in tissues form into inorganic structures such as bone, teeth, and other natural mineralized tissues - Investigates methods for improving mineralization - Explores new techniques that will help improve the biomimetic process

The development of materials for any replacement or regeneration application should be based on the thorough understanding of the structure to be substituted. This is true in many fields, but particularly exigent in substitution and regeneration medicine. The demands upon the material properties largely depend on the site of application and the function it has to restore. Ideally, a replacement material should mimic the living tissue from a mechanical, chemical, biological and functional point of view. Of course this is much easier to write down than to implement in clinical practice. Mineralized tissues such as bones, tooth and shells have attracted, in the last few years, considerable interest as natural anisotropic composite structures with adequate mechanical properties. In fact, Nature is and will continue to be the best materials scientist ever. Who better than nature can design complex structures and control the intricate phenomena (processing routes) that lead to the final shape and structure (from the macro to the nano level) of living creatures? Who can combine biological and physico-chemical mechanisms in such a way that can build ideal structure-properties relationships? Who, else than Nature, can really design smart structural components that respond in-situ to exterior stimulus, being able of adapting constantly their microstructure and correspondent properties? In the described philosophy line, mineralized tissues and biomineralization processes are ideal examples to learn-from for the materials scientist of the future.

Crystal growth is an important process, which forms the basis for a wide variety of natural phenomena and engineering developments. This book provides a unique opportunity for a reader to gain knowledge about various aspects of crystal growth from advanced inorganic materials to inorganic/organic composites, it unravels some problems of molecular crystallizations and shows advances in growth of pharmaceutical crystals, it tells about biomineralization of mollusks and cryoprotection of living cells, it gives a chance to learn about statistics of chiral asymmetry in crystal structure.

Mechanobiology—the study of the effects of mechanics on biological events—has evolved to answer numerous research questions. Mechanobiology Handbook 2nd Edition is a reference book for engineers, scientists, and clinicians who are interested in mechanobiology and a textbook for senior undergraduate to graduate level students of this growing field. Readers will gain a comprehensive review of recent research findings as well as elementary chapters on solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, and molecular analysis techniques. The new edition presents, in addition to the chapters of the first edition, homework problem sets that are available online and reviews of research in uncovered areas. Moreover, the new edition includes chapters on statistical analysis, design of experiments and optical imaging. The editors of this book are researchers and educators in mechanobiology. They realized a need for a single volume to assist course instructors as a guide for didactic teaching of mechanobiology to a diverse student body. A mechanobiology course is frequently made up of both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in engineering, biology, or integrated engineering and biology. Their goal was to present both the elementary and cutting-edge aspects of mechanobiology in a manner that is accessible to students from many different academic levels and from various disciplinary backgrounds. Moreover, it is their hope that the readers of Mechanobiology Handbook 2nd Edition will find study questions at the end of each chapter useful for long-term learning and further discussion. Comprehensive collection of reviews of recent research Introductory materials in mechanics, biology, and statistics Discussion of pioneering and emerging mechanobiology concepts Presentation of cutting-edge mechanobiology research findings across various fields and organ systems End of chapter study questions, available online Considering the complexity of the mechanics and the biology of the human body, most of the world of mechanobiology remains to be studied. Since the field is still developing, the Mechanobiology Handbook raises many different viewpoints and approaches with the intention of stimulating further research endeavours.

Methods in Enzymology volumes provide an indispensable tool for the researcher. Each volume is carefully written and edited by experts to contain state-of-the-art reviews and step-by-step protocols. In this volume, we have brought together a number of core protocols concentrating on Cell, Lipid and Carbohydrate, complementing the traditional content that is found in past, present and future Methods in Enzymology volumes. - Indispensable tool for the researcher - Carefully written and edited by experts to contain step-by-step protocols - In this volume we have brought together a number of core protocols concentrating on Cell, Lipid and Carbohydrate

Volume IAHandbook of Crystal Growth, 2nd Edition (Fundamentals: Thermodynamics and Kinetics) Volume IA addresses the present status of crystal growth science, and provides scientific tools for the following volumes: Volume II (Bulk Crystal Growth) and III (Thin Film Growth and Epitaxy). Volume IA highlights thermodynamics and kinetics. After historical introduction of the crystal growth, phase equilibria, defect thermodynamics, stoichiometry, and shape of crystal and structure of melt are described. Then, the most fundamental and basic aspects of crystal growth are presented, along with the theories of nucleation and growth kinetics. In addition, the simulations of crystal growth by Monte Carlo, ab initio-based approach and colloidal assembly are thoroughly investigated. Volume IBHandbook of Crystal Growth, 2nd Edition (Fundamentals: Transport and Stability) Volume IB discusses pattern formation, a typical problem in crystal growth. In addition, an introduction to morphological stability is given and the phase-field model is explained with comparison to experiments. The field of nanocrystal growth is rapidly expanding and here the growth from vapor is presented as an example. For the advancement of life science, the crystal growth of protein and other biological molecules is indispensable and biological crystallization in nature gives many hints for their crystal growth. Another subject discussed is pharmaceutical crystal growth. To understand the crystal growth, in situ observation is extremely powerful. The observation techniques are demonstrated. Volume IA - Explores phase equilibria, defect thermodynamics of Si, stoichiometry of oxides and atomistic structure of melt and alloys - Explains basic ideas to understand crystal growth, equilibrium shape of crystal, rough-smooth transition of step and surface, nucleation and growth mechanisms - Focuses on simulation of crystal growth by classical Monte Carlo, ab-initio based quantum mechanical approach, kinetic Monte Carlo and phase field model. Controlled colloidal assembly is presented as an experimental model for crystal growth. Volume IIB - Describes morphological stability theory and phase-field model and comparison to experiments of dendritic growth - Presents nanocrystal growth in vapor as well as protein crystal growth and biological crystallization - Interprets mass production of pharmaceutical crystals to be understood as ordinary crystal growth and explains crystallization of chiral molecules - Demonstrates in situ observation of crystal growth in vapor, solution and melt on the ground and in space

Unique in combining the expertise of practitioners from university hospitals and that of academic researchers, this timely monograph presents selected topics catering specifically to the needs and interests of natural scientists and engineers as well as physicians who are concerned with developing nanotechnology-based treatments to improve human health. To this end, the book cover the materials aspects of nanomedicine, such as the hierarchical structure of biological materials, the imaging of hard and soft tissues and, in particular, concrete examples of nanotechnology-based approaches in modern medical treatments. The whole is rounded off by a discussion of the opportunities and risks of using nanotechnology and nanomaterials in medicine, backed by case studies taken from real life.

In the last decade, numerous studies have demonstrated the existence of alternative pathways to nucleation and crystallisation that oppose the classical view. Such proposed scenarios include multistage reactions proceeding via various precursor species and/or intermediate phases. The aim of this book is to review and discuss these recent advances in our understanding of the early stages of mineralisation through a series of contributions that address both experimental and theoretical studies about the formation and nature of initial precursor species (e.g., prenucleation clusters, dense liquid phases, amorphous nanoparticles, etc.) as well as their transformations leading to the stable mineral phase. Several chapters are devoted to cutting-edge analytical techniques used for investigating the above processes in situ, in real time and at conditions relevant to both natural and industrial processes. At the end of the book, the editors summarize the key questions that still need to be addressed in order to establish a complete picture of the nucleation and growth processes involved during the formation of minerals

What does it mean to be at the forefront of a characterization technique? Novel implementation and research, finding new ways to visualize composites, and new techniques all play a role. Yet with the myriad of advances in the field, keeping up with new and advanced techniques, often from many different areas, has become a challenge. Biomineralizati