Ateneo - UPO

Properties of the crystalline state in relation with the crystal phases constituting the human body or crystallizing in the biological medium. Experimental techniques for their identification and characterization.

"Appunti per biologi su cristalli e minerali." Metodi non distruttivi per la loro identificazione. Caterina Rinaudo e Alessandro Croce Tabedizioni, 2020

The course aims to provide knowledge on the peculiarity of the crystalline state, on the crystal chemistry of the crystal/minerals constituting or appearing in the human body and on the techniques useful for their identification and characterization

Chemistry and Physics

Lectures and practical activities with optical and electronic microscope and micro-Raman spectroscope.

Before each lesson a very synthetic review of the previous lesson will be performed.

Oral examination: three-four questions. The student must know the peculiarity of the crystalline state, of the mineral/crystalline phases which may be found in the human body, their physico-chemical characteristics and the techniques available for their characterization. A discussion on the identification of the best technique in a specific situation will be proposed. The scientific language used will be also evaluated. The final mark will be the mean of the marks on each question.

Peculiarity of the crystals: crystal state and crystalline lattices. Symmetry elements and their combination. Unit cell and its repetitiveness in the three-dimensional space. Reticular planes and crystal structure.
Principles of crystal growth from solution: homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation, crystal growth.
Crystal chemistry of minerals important in the human body (phosphates), constituting the human lithiasis (uric acids, urates, Ca-oxalates, phosphates, cholesterol ), human calcifications. Minerals regulated as “asbestos” and asbestiform minerals not yet regulated: their interaction with the biological medium.
Techniques for the localization, identification and characterization of the crystalline phases/minerals: the optical microscope with polarizers, directions of vibrations in the crystals; the Fresnel law.
Scanning Electron Microscopy with annexed chemical microanalysis system: morphological and chemical characterization. Interpretation of the EDS spectra.
Micro-Raman spectroscopy: principles and application on minerals/crystals interesting in the biological field.

Knowledge of the mineral/crystalline phases having impact on the human health; knowledge of the parameters responsible for the growth/incorporation of the mineral/crystalline phases and of their potential modifications in the human body; acquisition of an appropriate scientific language. Knowledge of the techniques suitable for the identification of the mineral/crystalline phases and competences for the use of the selected technique.
Ability in the critical analysis of the experimental results, identifying limits and potential.
Acquisition of a lexicon suitable in the crystallographic field, also for a clear and concise description of the problems connected with the presence of mineral/crystalline phases in the human body, as well understandable by non-crystallographers.
Skill in the preparation and presentation of relations on the presence of mineral/crystalline phases in biological medium using an appropriate scientific language, under oral or written form.
Capability in the autonomous acquisition, in-depth analysis and updating of data, using books and scientific articles.
Skill using the teaching material in a critical and well-reasoned study.