My research is based on biominerals and biomaterials, involving more specifically the syntheses, analyses and characterisations of biominerals and biomaterials. Biominerals cover a wide range of inorganic salts which are involved in a variety of biological functions and are incorporated in many living organisms for support and protection of body structures. Biomaterials, on the other hand, can be defined as synthetic or natural materials that can replace or augment tissues, organs or body functions, and are used or suitable for use in prostheses that come into contact with living tissues.

I am currently working on various projects involving calcium phosphate, a major component of many biological minerals. For example, bone and teeth are made from calcium phosphate in the form of the mineral hydroxylapatite. My first project [1] is based on the investigation of the biomineralization process of fluorapatite (fluorinated hydroxylapatite) in Lingula anatina shells. Lingula anatina is a brachiopod composed of nearly two identical valves located on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the animal. Its shell is composed of chitin, glycosaminoglycans, proteins and calcium phosphate. In the study, I investigate the relationship between the proteins present in the shell and the mineralisation of calcium phosphate. This is achieved by synthesising the minerals in the presence of extracted proteins and analysing them using Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy, TGA, FT-IR, and crystallography using Powder-Xray Diffraction.

I also worked on a research project developing a method to encapsulate and control the release of chemical compounds for medicinal purposes. Mineral-polysaccharide microcapsules[2] were produced by a one-step method in which the deposition of a semi-permeable alginate/chitosan membrane around droplets of sodium alginate was coupled with in-situ precipitation of amorphous calcium phosphate. Nucleation of calcium phosphate within the membrane, triggered by counter-diffusion of Ca2+ and HPO42- ions, was controlled by the phosphate concentration in the alginate droplets. This process enabled the production of hybrid microcapsules with enhanced mechanical strength and reduced permeability to encapsulated molecules such as haemoglobin and ibuprofen.

One of my favourite leisurely activities is photography. I have been enjoying and practising both colour and black-and-white photography for many years now, taking photos of wildlife, landscapes, family and friends, and art.

Otherwise, my other interests are sport, and travelling. I have been visiting some very interesting places, such as Ireland, England, Scottland, India, Finland, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, New York City and...France, my home country!

Personnal homepage here

I. Lévêque, S. A. Davis, M. Cusack, S.Mann, submitting to Science.

I.Lévêque, K. H. Rhodes, S. Mann, J. Mat. Chem., 2002, 12, 8, 2178