Tuesday publication post! 📖 In this newest study, the Poseidon AX system was used for operando liquid-cell electron microscopy to investigate how phosphate-based modifiers regulate calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) mineralization. These processes are relevant for #Life-ScienceStudies to understand bone formation and pathological calcification. By mimicking posttranslational phosphorylated moieties, the authors uncover a powerful and unconventional inhibition mechanism.
Key highlights:
🧪 Polyphosphates and phosphonates suppress COM nucleation by altering prenucleation clusters
💎 Irreversible inhibition of crystal growth via lattice strain induced by retained phosphates
🔬 In situ electron microscopy reveal a ~6 h induction period with no measurable growth after exposure to modifiers
📈 Unlike the linear growth seen without modifiers, regrowth after inhibition is anisotropic and irregular
This work highlights the unique and efficient multi-modal role of phosphates in biomineralization, which were only seen using nanoscale type of studies such as in situ microscopy.
Want to read the entire work? Find it here!
https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60320-4
