The Crystal * Matrix

Biomatrixgenesis: The term created by Dr. Raymond E. Turner, a Portsmouth, Virginia notable, to explain the spontaneous self-association of a carbohydrate polymer known as hyaluronic acid

Dehydrating the polymer using different molecular sizes under various conditions produces molecular patterns and designs.

Images are captured using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The carbohydrate repeat unit is the hyaluronic acid (HA)dimer (GlcUA-GlcNAc)n, which is the molecular basis for biomatrixgenesis. Dr. Turner's dissertation[1] and first papers were on cationic dye binding[2] to HA oligomers and on the self-association of hyaluronic acid oligomers[3].

Later on the he studied the role of these oligomers in biological tissue[4],[5], [6]. While a research affiliate at MIT, Dr. Turner began to realize that the molecular sculpturing he observed was unique and developed the science as an art known as biomatrixgenesis. (PDF of unpublished research done at MIT coming soon!)

1. ^ Turner, Raymond Edward, Hyaluronic Acid:Physical Properties, University Microfilm International, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ph.D., NYU Poly (formerly Polytechnic U.) June 1986.

2. ^ Turner, R.E., and Cowman, M.K. Cationic dye binding by hyaluronic acid fragments. Arch. of Biochem. and Biophys. (1985) 237,253 - 260.

3. ^ Turner, R. E, Lin, P.Y., and Cowman, M.K., Self-association of hyaluronic acid segments... Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics Vol. 265, 1988, Pages 484-495

4. ^ Toole BP, Banerjee SD, Turner RE, Munaim S, Knudson CB (1992) Hyaluronic acid–cell interactions in limb dev.: In:Dev. Pattern. of the Vert. Limb. Hinchliffe J, Hurle J, Summerbell D (eds.). Plenum. pp.1-9. Ref#140 in Hyaluronan Review

5. ^ Toole BP,Turner RE, Banerjee SD,Hyaluronic acid-binding protein in chondrogenesis and angiogenesis in Clinical and Biological Research. 383B:437-44. 1993.

6. ^ Turner, RE., Banerjee, S.D., Toole, T.P., 1990, Role of hyaluronic acid binding protein in chondrogenesis (unpublished manuscript)