A story told by a single nanoparticle in the body fluid: Demonstration of dissolution-reprecipitation of nanocrystals in a biological system

Aim: Analysis of the chemical composition of mineral particles found in the body is critical to understand the formation and effects of these entities in vivo. Yet, the possibility that biological fluids may modulate particle composition over time has not been examined. Materials & methods: Mineralo-organic nanoparticles similar to the ones that spontaneously form in human tissues were analyzed using electron microscopy, spectroscopy and proteomic analyses. Results: We show that the mineralo-organic nanoparticles assimilate various ions and minerals during incubation in ionic solutions simulating body fluids. The particles undergo dissolution-reprecipitation reactions that affect the final protein composition of the particles. Conclusion: The reactions occurring at the mineral-water interface therefore modulate the ionic and organic composition of mineral nanoparticles formed in biological fluids, producing changes that may alter the effects of mineral particles and stones in vivo.