Ceramic/structural protein composites and method of preparation thereof

1. A method of coating a substrate, comprising:

exposing a portion of a substrate to an aqueous system at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 80° C. to form a ceramic coating on a surface of the substrate;

wherein the aqueous system comprises a structural protein, a gelation inhibitor agent, a weak acid having a pKa of about 3.0 to about 5.5, water, Ca 2+ , HPO 4 2− , a buffer system, and optionally one or more of Mg 2+ , Na + , K + , Cl − , SO 4 2− ; or HCO 3 − ; and

wherein the aqueous system has an initial pH of about 5.0 to about 8.0.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structural protein is collagen Type I, II, III, or V.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gelation inhibitor agent is urea, histidine, hydroxyproline, thiourea, sodium dodecyl sulfate, lithium dodecyl sulfate, 2-mercaptoethanol, formamide, dithiothreitol, (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate), (3-([cholamidopropyl]-dimethyl ammonio)-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate), guanidinium chloride (guanidine hydrochloride), or guanidinium thiocyanate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the buffer system comprises 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid salts, tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethan, piperazine-1,4-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid), piperazine-1,4-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) salts, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the weak acid is an organic carboxylic acid having a pKa of about 3.0 to about 5.5.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the structural protein is collagen Type I present in an amount of about 0.1 g/L to about 5.0 g/L;

the gelation inhibitor agent is urea present in an amount of about 0.1 M to about 6.0 M;

Ca 2+ is present in an amount of about 2.5 to about 15.0 mM;

Mg 2+ is present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 5.0 mM;

Na + is present in an amount of about 50.0 to about 300.0 mM;

K + is present in an amount of about 2.0 to about 20.0 mM;

Cl − is present in an amount of about 50.0 to about 350.0 mM;

SO 4 2− is present in an amount of about 0 to about 2.0 mM;

HPO 4 2− is present in an amount of about 1.0 to about 10.0 mM; and

HCO 3 − is present in an amount of about 5.0 to about 100.0 mM.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exposing the substrate to the aqueous system occurs for a time of about 10 hours to about 48 hours.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a metal, a ceramic, a polymeric material, or silicon.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating is performed in a sealed container, wherein the sealed container comprises a pressure valve.