COLL 138 |
| Jennifer A. Swift and M. Crina Frincu. Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057 |
| The deposition of cholesterol monohydrate crystals in vivo is an undesirable crystallization process that leads to a variety of human diseases including the formation of gallstones. Gallstones are typically composed of approx. 80% cholesterol; the remaining portions are calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, as well as other organic components. Epitaxial relationships between the surfaces of inorganic and bioorganic crystals can be an important factor in crystal nucleation and growth processes in a variety of biological environments. We have used a combination of in situ AFM and molecular modeling to study the epitaxial growth of cholesterol monohydrate from model bile solutions. Heteroepitaxial growth of cholesterol crystals on select mineral surfaces and homoepitaxial growth on preexisting cholesterol substrates was monitored at physiological temperature in real time in order to simulate the conditions that may promote precipitation of cholesterol precipitation in vivo. |
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Nanoscale Imaging of Biological Systems
Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry |