CrystEngComm Blog

In this HOT article, the Joester group, show for the first time the synthesis and stabilization of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) nanoparticles in phosphatidylcholine liposomes (vesicles).  There is exactly one nanoparticle per liposome, and the ACC is stable over time (it does not crystallize for at lease 20 h).

The authors have also observed ACC nanoparticles of up to
200 nm in liposomes extruded through a 1 mm pore size membrane.  Showing no sign of faceting or crystallization, these are the largest ACC nanoparticles stabilized by confinement thus far.

The liposomal encapsulation strategies in combination with in situ imaging, scattering, and spectroscopy will aid in characterizing subsequent phase transformations and polymorph selection in the
nucleation and growth not only of calcium carbonate, but also other (bio)-minerals, pharmaceuticals, and proteins.

Read more for FREE at:
In vitro synthesis and stabilization of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) nanoparticles within liposomes
Chantel C. Tester, Ryan E. Brock, Ching-Hsuan Wu, Minna R. Krejci, Steven Weigand and Derk Joester
CrystEngComm, 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C1CE05153A