Dresden 2011 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 2: Biopolymers and Biomaterials I (jointly with BP)
CPP 2.1: Topical Talk
Monday, March 14, 2011, 10:30–11:00, ZEU 222
Crayfish combine amorphous and crystalline mineral to build a functional tooth structure — Barbara Aichmayer1, Shmuel Bentov2,3, Ali Al-Sawalmih1, Admir Masic1, •Paul Zaslansky1, Peter Fratzl1, Amir Sagi3,4, and Amir Berman2,4 — 1Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424 Potsdam, Germany — 2Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Israel — 3Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Israel — 4The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Israel
Various strategies allow for the formation of functional tooth structures including examples as different as the self-sharpening teeth of sea-urchins and our durable human teeth. The freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus follows a unique approach of using amorphous and crystalline minerals to build the molar extension of its mandible, which serves as an efficient grinding tool. Mechanical properties with an astonishing similarity to human teeth are achieved by the combination of an enamel-like layer of oriented fluorapatite crystals and a graded structure of chitin and amorphous mineral with an increasing phosphate/carbonate ratio. The composition and structure of the crayfish molar, measured by state of the art techniques such as Raman imaging, synchrotron X-ray diffraction and micro-CT, are related to its mechanical properties and discussed with respect to the role of the calcium phosphate, which allows for the formation of the hard, crystalline coating and also helps to stabilize the amorphous mineral.