A test for mineralization inhibition for calcium salts using agarose hydrogels

Agarose hydrogel layers, containing dissolved calcium chloride, can be mineralized by immersion in sodium bicarbonate solution. Local injection of polyacrylic acid (PAA), a crystal growth inhibitor, into the gel results in a transparent zone, essentially free of calcium carbonate crystals. This effect is shown to be a true inhibition, not a reduction of calcium concentration due to chelation. This approach could be used to screen for the effect of mineralization inhibitors on mineralization and may prove to be more informative than studies carried out on mineralizing solutions.