Controlled crystallization of CaCO3 on hyperbranched polyglycerol adsorbed to self-assembled monolayers

The formation of biominerals by living organisms is governed by the cooperation of soluble and insoluble macromolecules with peculiar interfacial properties. To date, most of the studies on mineralization processes involve model systems that only account for the existence of one organic matrix and thus disregard the interaction between the soluble and insoluble organic components that is crucial for a better understanding of the processes taking place at the inorganic-organic interface. We have set up a model system composed of a matrix surface, namely, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM), and a soluble component, hyperbranched polyglycerol. The model mineral calcium carbonate displays diverse polymorphism. It could be demonstrated that the phase selection of calcium carbonate is controlled by the cooperative interaction of the SAM and hyperbranched polyglycerol of different molecular weights (M-n = 500-6000 g/mol) adsorbed to the SAM. Our studies showed that hyperbranched polyglycerol is adsorbed to polar as well as to nonpolar SAMs. This effect can be related to its highly flexible structure and its amphiphilic character. The adsorption of hyperbranched polyglycerol to the SAMs with different surface polarities resulted in the formation of aragonite for alkyl-terminated SAMs and no phase selection for carboxylate-terminated SAMs.