Research Summary

My research interest is focused on understanding the biomineralization of self-assembled extracellular matrix proteins in vitro using the polymer thin film and investigating the interaction between the mineral and protein during the early stage mineralization. Using atomic force microscopy, shear modulation force microscopy, scanning transmission microscopy, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, scanning transmission x-ray microscopy, I found that calcium ions were preferentially absorbed onto the self-assembled
protein fibers which changed the mechanical property of protein fibers in the early-stage mineralization. The protein structure and composition determined the initiation of the biomineral phase and put the effect on the morphology, size and composition of the mineral crystals in the late-stage of mineralization. My efforts are targeted towards understanding the underlying mechanism of ECM-mediated biomineralization in vivo.
Using atomic force microscopy, shear modulation force microscopy, scanning transmission microscopy, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, scanning transmission x-ray microscopy, I found that calcium ions were preferentially absorbed onto the self-assembled protein fibers which changed the mechanical property of protein fibers in the early-stage mineralization. The protein structure and composition determined the initiation of the biomineral phase and put the effect on the morphology, size and composition of the mineral crystals in the late-stage of mineralization. My efforts are targeted towards understanding the underlying mechanism of ECM-mediated biomineralization in vivo.