『Abstract
A novel and promising application of a geochemical tool adapted
to medical science is the thermodynamic and kinetic modeling of
the behavior of minerals in fluids similar to lung fluids (or
simulated lung fluids, SLF). Reaction-path modeling for chrysotile,
anorthite, K-feldspar, talc, Muscovite, kaolinite, albite, and
quartz under physiologic conditions in SLF gives dissolution times
for these minerals as : chrysotile<anorthite<K-feldspar<talc<muscovite=kaolinite=albite=quartz.
For the reaction of these minerals with SLF, hydroxylapatite (a
mineral initially supersaturated in SLF) and several other secondary
minerals were predicted to form (e.g., mesolite is predicted to
precipitate during dissolution reactions of other Al3+-containing
minerals). Batch experiments using SLF and a brucite/chrysotile
mineral mixture confirm that hydroxylapatite forms during reactions
in SLF, potentially a function of having a seed crystal in the
brucite, chrysotile, or hydromagnesite (predicted to form from
brucite dissolution) present. Moreover, SEM analysis of lung tissue
also confirms the formation of calcium phosphates (e.g., hydroxylapatite).
Reaction-path modeling of minerals under physiologic conditions
provides insight into mineral behavior in the body; predicted
mineralization pathways associated with pleural plaques and the
predicted formation of Al3+-bearing minerals during
reaction-path modeling deserve attention when considering pathologies
in the body.
Keywords: Medical mineralogy; mineral dissolution; Geochemist
workbench; reaction-path modeling; lung mineralogy』
Introduction
Experimental methods
Reaction-path modeling
Aqueous experiments
Calcified pleural plaques
Results and discussion
Geochemical modeling: Dissolution rates
Geochemical modeling: Secondary mineral formation in simulated
lung fluids
Aqueous experiments
Calcified pleural plaques
Concluding remarks
Acknowledgments
References cited