An in situ atomic force microscopy study of uric acid crystal growth

J Phys Chem B. 2005 May 26;109(20):9989-95. doi: 10.1021/jp0455733.

Abstract

Kidney stones are heterogeneous polycrystalline aggregates that can consist of several different building blocks. A significant number of human stones contain uric acid crystals as a crystalline component, though the molecular-level growth of this important biomaterial has not been previously well-characterized. In the present study, in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to investigate the real-time growth on the (100) surface of uric acid (UA) single crystals as a function of fundamental solution parameters. Layer-by-layer growth on UA (100) was found to be initiated at screw dislocation sites and to proceed via highly anisotropic rates which depend on the crystallographic direction. The smallest b-steps exhibited minimum heights corresponding to two molecular layers, while fast-moving c-steps more commonly showed monolayer heights. Growth kinetics measured under a range of flow rates, supersaturation levels, and pH values reveal linear trends in the growth kinetics, with faster growth attained in solutions with higher supersaturation and/or pH. The calculated kinetic parameters for UA growth derived from these experiments are in good agreement with the values reported for other crystal systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization
  • Kinetics
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods*
  • Uric Acid / chemistry*

Substances

  • Uric Acid