ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0853-0703

Year

2026

Season

Spring

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Computing, Engineering & Construction

Degree Name

Master of Science in Material Science & Engineering (MS)

Department

Engineering

NACO controlled Corporate Body

University of North Florida. School of Engineering

Committee Chairperson

Dr. Brian Wingender

Second Advisor

Dr. Daniel Santavicca

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Third Advisor

Dr. Laura Habegger

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Jutima Simsiriwong

Department Chair

Dr. Daniel Santavicca

College Dean

Alan Harris

Abstract

Biomineralization is a process where cells control the supersaturation of ions and spatiotemporal deposition of numerous proteins to guide biomineralization, resulting in hard mineralized tissues with complex structures and novel properties. The mechanisms of this process are not well understood but key components have been identified as critical for biomineralization to occur. The cellular expression of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and the subsequent post-translational modification (PTM) play a role in stabilization of mineral precursors, control of morphology and growth, phase/polymorph selection, and composition of mineral formed. Currently in vitro model systems use either synthetic polymers, native proteins extracted from mineralized tissues (which may damage/alter the PTMs or protein structure), or recombinant proteins expressed via prokaryotic organisms which lack the ability to create PTMs crucial for functionality. A novel eukaryotic expression platform developed using the transgenic sea anemone, Nematostella Vectensis, was engineered to provide IDPs from desired organisms which would contain native PTMs that are missing in prokaryote expression. We have developed a biomimetic model system capable of adapting to both CaP and CaCO3 systems and enable in vitro testing of these Nematostella-derived IDPs and other key system variables. We characterize the morphology, composition, and phase of these minerals using a combination of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Here, for the first time, we present in vitro mineralization data from our flexible, proof-of-concept small-volume reaction system using IDPs expressed via a eukaryotic organism to direct the mineralization process. We show results which validate this model for studying the effects of IDPs and alternative counterions like magnesium in simple mineralizations of CaP and CaCO3.

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