Diatom-inspired skeletonisation of insulin - mechanistic insights into crystallisation and extracellular bioactivity

Diosangeles Soto Véliz, Catharina Alam, Thiago Neitzel, Rebecca Wyborski, Adolfo Rivero-Müller, Parvez Alam

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In this paper, we encage insulin within calcium carbonate by means of a biomineralisation process. We find that both dogbone and crossbone morphologies develop during the crystallisation process. The crystals break down into small nanocrystals after prolonged immersion in phosphate buffer solution, which adhere extracellularly to mammalian cells without causing any observable damage or early cell-death. The mechanisms behind calcium carbonate encaging of single insulin monomers are detailed. This communication elucidates a novel, diatom-inspired approach to the mineral skeletonisation of insulin.
    Original languageUndefined/Unknown
    Pages (from-to)140–147
    JournalColloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
    Volume133
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Cite this