Two Group Members Deliver Oral Presentations at the GRC Biomineralization 2026

Recently, the work submitted by PhD student Zeyao Fu and master’s student Linzhi Liu of our group was selected by the conference chairs for oral presentations at the Biomineralization Gordon Research Conference (GRC 2026). The conference is primarily invitation-based, with the remaining oral presentations chosen competitively from submitted abstracts, making the selection of both students’ work a notable achievement.

The Biomineralization Gordon Research Conference was held from July 26 to 31, 2026, under the theme “Bio-Crystallization and Bio-Assembly Across Scales.”

Zeyao Fu’s presentation was titled “Spatial Compartmentalization by Tomes’ Processes Directs Hierarchical Mineralization of Enamel.” Using nanoscale FIB-SEM tomography, this work reconstructed the three-dimensional spatial relationships among Tomes’ processes, rods, interrod enamel, and associated membranes in secretory-stage mouse enamel, revealing that interrod mineralization consistently precedes rod filling and forms tubular chambers that template rod boundaries. The study extends Tomes’ process-directed patterning into a confinement-directed mineralization framework, providing concrete parameters for biomimetic materials design.

Linzhi Liu’s presentation was titled “Emergent Asymmetric Transmission in a Crossed-lamellar Gastropod Shell: From Microstructural Architecture to Bio-inspired Optical Materials.” This work reports a previously overlooked asymmetric transmission phenomenon in the gastropod Polinices albumen shell: within its two-layered crossed-lamellar structure, the inner layer’s transmittance substantially exceeds that of the outer layer, and the alternating bright and dark lamellae in each layer reverse their optical contrast upon a 180° rotation of the incident light, revealing pronounced direction-dependent transmission. The structure concurrently delivers high hardness and fracture resistance, offering a design blueprint for bio-inspired optical materials for harsh environments.

The presence of both students on the international academic stage demonstrates the group’s research strength in biomineralization and bio-inspired materials. Professor Zhaoyong Zou, head of the group, stated that the group will continue to support students in participating in high-level international academic exchanges.