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Mu et al. Microstructures 2023;3:2023030 Microstructures
DOI: 10.20517/microstructures.2023.05

Review Open Access

Physiological and pathological/ectopic

mineralization: from composition to microstructure

2,4
2,3
2,3
Yuqing Mu 1,2,3 , Wendong Gao , Yinghong Zhou , Lan Xiao , Yin Xiao 1,2,3
1
School of Medicine and Dentistry & Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University (GU), Gold Coast, QLD 4222,
Australia.
2
The Australia-China Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (ACCTERM), Queensland University of
Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
3
School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of
Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
4
School of Dentistry, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
Correspondence to: Prof. Yin Xiao, School of Medicine and Dentistry & Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University
(GU), Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia. E-mail: yin.xiao@griffith.edu.au
How to cite this article: Mu Y, Gao W, Zhou Y, Xiao L, Xiao Y. Physiological and pathological/ectopic mineralization: from
composition to microstructure. Microstructures 2023;3:2023030. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/microstructures.2023.05
Received: 18 Jan 2023 First Decision: 8 Mar 2023 Revised: 17 May 2023 Accepted: 21 Jun 2023 Published: 7 Jul 2023

Academic Editors: Xiupeng Wang, Yuxiao Lai Copy Editor: Fangling Lan Production Editor: Fangling Lan

Abstract
Biomineralization is a process that leads to the formation of hierarchically arranged structures in mineralized
tissues, such as bone and teeth. Extensive research has been conducted on the crystals in bones and teeth, with the
aim of understanding the underlying mechanisms of the mineralization process. Pathological/ectopic
mineralization, such as kidney stones, calcific tendinitis, and skeletal fluorosis, shares some similar features but
different mechanisms to physiological mineralization. A better understanding will provide new perspectives for
treating pathological/ectopic mineralization-related diseases. This review provides an overview of the mechanisms
of the crystallization and growth of crystals in physiological and pathological conditions from a chemistry
perspective. By linking the microstructures and functions of crystals formed in both conditions, potential
approaches are proposed to treat pathological/ectopic mineralization-related diseases.

Keywords: Physiological mineralization, pathological/ectopic mineralization, apatite crystals, mineral crystallinity,
dental tissues, bone remodeling

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
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