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

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.

Citation

Véliz, D. S., Alam, C., Nietzel, T., Wyborski, R., Rivero-Müller, A., & Alam, P. (2015). Diatom-inspired skeletonisation of insulin - Mechanistic insights into crystallisation and extracellular bioactivity. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 133, 140-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.05.047

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 31, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jun 9, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Deposit Date: May 26, 2022
• Journal: Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
• Print ISSN: 0927-7765
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 133
• Pages: 140-147
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.05.047
• Keywords: Calcium carbonate, Crystallisation, Direct encapsulation, Insulin, Diatom, Diabetes
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2869931