Nanostructural Organization of Naturally Occurring Composites—Part I: Silica-Collagen-Based Biocomposites

Figure 2

SEM images of multilayer constructed M. chuni spicule (a) treated with alkali solution which provides strong evidence that the multifibrillar organic matrix is the template for silica mineralization (b)–(e). Spicule layers are connected among each other by nanostructured protein fibres (arrows) (b), (d). Micrograph (e) shows a silica distribution on the surface of nanofibrils in the form of nanopearl necklets (arrows).