Psychrophilic calcification in vitro

Abstract

Psychrophilic calcification is known for both invertebrates and vertebrates. Especially, diverse ice fish species attract attention as model organisms for better understanding of the principles of calcification under extreme cold environmental conditions. Here, the experimental results obtained using XRD and HRTEM associated electron diffraction techniques as well as NEXAFS measurements show with strong evidence the presence of crystalline hydroxyapatite within selected hard tissues of ice fish. Also the calcium carbonate origin of the Champsocephalus gunnari ice fish otoliths has been confirmed. Also, the first attempts to develop calcium phosphate-based composites on organic templates using dual membrane diffusion method (DMDM) at the temperature of freezing point of water have been reported.