Factors behind the spontaneous synthesis of spherical brushite from wheat bran aqueous extract: The role of zinc.

Coprecipitation biomineralization was induced using nondialyzed and dialyzed aqueous wheat bran extracts as scaffolds, to which zinc (Zn) was added in a 0%-15% concentration range. Spherical particles of brushite were precipitated up to 3% Zn concentration in the nondialyzed extracts. At 5% and 10% Zn, spherical or spheroidal brushite particles were precipitated, but the internal microstructure changed from stacked plates to laid parallel strands; a secondary weddellite phase was formed.