Dear Colleagues,

Calcium carbonates and calcium phosphates attract attention due to their role in biomineralization, geochemistry, technological processes, and synthesis of advanced materials with tailored properties. In biomineralization, the resulting calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate biominerals have properties, superior to any geologically or man-made material, that generally correlate with their specific composition and structure. Although CaCO₃ and CaPs do occur in different organisms, a number of similarities in the mechanisms of their formation, as well as in their physiological roles, have been found.

This Special Issue is an opportunity for the up-to date presentations of the studies on the calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate biomineralization with special emphasis on the research of their formation in the inorganic environment. A fundamental understanding of crystal growth and dissolution, as well as mineralogical and crystallographic structure and properties, for this class of materials, in vitro, is essential for analysing and modelling of the biological systems in vivo. Therefore submission of novel studies on different fundamental aspects of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate biomineralization pathways are welcomed including, but not limiting to:

(i) molecular simulations providing insight into the kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural/mechanistic properties of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate in crystallization process

(ii) investigations of amorphous biominerals which are of special interest considering that many of them have an important role in biomineralization processes as well as in synthesis of novel materials.

(iii) studies of formation at conditions close to physiological which attract attention as a model for green synthesis.

This Special Issue is also platform for papers which address trends in preparation, characterization and practical applications of novel bioinspired/biomimetic materials with enhanced physical-chemical or mechanical properties.

Dr. Jasminka Kontrec
Dr. Maja Dutour Sikirić
Dr. Branka Njegić Džakula
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• calcium carbonate
• calcium phosphate
• biomineralization
• bio-inspired materials
• crystallization