Biominerals are structures essential to their host organism, for which they
provide varying functions and features. Through evolutionary optimization, they
present sublime material properties as yet unparalleled in anthropogenically created
materials. Formed at ambient temperatures from benign materials, the underlying
formation processes and mechanisms still challenge our understanding. In this essay,
we identify three key challenges which must be overcome to successfully emulate
advanced biomimesis of ceramic materials. As frontiers singled out from the various
challenges involved in mimicking biomineralization in vitro, three fundamental lines of
research are represented: (i) temporal control of mineralization, (ii) spatial control of
mineralization by self-organizing scaffolds and, finally, (iii) control of mineralization
by nonclassical crystallization and thus unconventional mechanisms which are not yet
part of the pertinent physicochemical canon. We expect that by mastering these
aspects, the discipline of bio-inspired mineralization will take us far beyond where we
are today.
Keywords: Biomineral, Bio-Inspired Mineralization, Hierarchy, Nonclassical
Crystallization.
