Step kinetics on monosodium urate monohydrate single crystal surfaces: an in situ AFM study

摘要: The deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in synovial fluid is a classic clinical symptom the joint disease gout. In previous work (CrystEngComm, 2011, 13, 1111–1117), it was reported that crystal growth occurs by an island mechanism 2–10 mM solutions under simulated physiologic conditions (150 NaCl, 37 °C, pH = 7.4). present examines greater detail molecular-level occurring areas between deposited islands on two types single surfaces – (100) and (1–10) using situ atomic force microscopy. surface topography both faces consisted elementary (unit cell) steps macrosteps (>45 nm) which showed significant quantifiable differences their in-plane kinetics. All growing exhibited orientations corresponding to high Miller Index directions non-linear increase lateral velocity over supersaturation range σ 2.5–3.4. Topographical imaging additionally used establish preferred relative orientation domains these frequently twinned crystals.