Effects of organic matrix proteins on the interfacial structure at the bone–biocompatible nacre interface in vitro

Abstract The biocompatibility and potential osteoinductivity of nacre have favored its use as a bone-grafting material. The present study is to investigate the interfacial structure at the bone–nacre interface resulting from organic matrix proteins, which emphasizes the mechanism of bone-bonding ability and biocompatibility of the shell tissues such as nacre and biogenic calcite. To understand the interfacial reaction, the zeta potential measurements, provide for a unique method to quantify the actual state of the interface in situ, were used for synthetic and biogenic calcium carbonate suspensions with respect to pH and the organic matrix as an additive. The zeta potentials and surface charge density show that the organic matrix proteins are main charge regulators, resulting in the stabilized tissue properties as compared with synthetic crystals. Also, in forming calcium carbonate crystals with the additives, the conformation of organic matrix has an important role in the understanding of the newly formed interfacial structure. The result provides the primary role of the organic matrix proteins in controlling the formation of interfacial structure and biocompatibility with bone as well as the stability of biogenic tissues. And it gives a new insight into the usefulness of zeta potential measurement to describe the in vivo interaction between the bone and implants.