Synthesis of magnesium-doped calcium carbonate microcapsules through yeast-regulated mineralization

•Yeast cells were used as biotemplate to prepare CaCO3 microcapsules.•The special biosorption of yeast cells for Mg2+ was used to regulate doping Mg.•Biotemplate with high Mg content promoted the precipitation of vaterite.•The amount of doped Mg2+ can be controlled with MgCl2 concentration.•The Mg-doped CaCO3 microcapsules had a better biocompatibility.

Microscale hollow Mg-doped calcium carbonate was fabricated using yeast cell as biotemplate. The yeasts pre-adsorbed magnesium metabolically due to special biosorption for metallic ions. Vaterite was preferably formed rather than calcite during the fabrication in which yeast biotemplate with high Mg2+ content was used, and a larger amount of magnesium was also doped within. When being co-cultured with mouse mesenchymal stem cells, the vaterite/calcite composite microcapsules with high Mg content revealed a better cytocompatibility than the calcite microcapsules without Mg or with less Mg content. This study is expected to promote the development of novel biomimetic materials.

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