Calcium Carbonate Polymorphism in Biominerlization. From in vivo knowledge to in vitro application

The biomineralization is the study of biological mineral formation. It represents in many aspects the synthesis of biology and geology. In fact, the organisms use an organic matrix to control the mineral deposition in terms of shape, polymorphism, composition and mechanical properties among others. The biomineral (composite inorganic-organic) are always specifically located and optimised to satisfy the organism requests as results of an evolutionary process. The calcium carbonate polymorphism control is one the most intriguing examples. Nowadays many information are available on the strategy used by the organism to precipitate one polymorph instead of another. This knowledge has been applied to design many biologically inspired systems with, so far, potential high technological applications.