Growth and characterization of Struvite and related crystals

Abstract

The thesis entitled, Growth and characterization of struvite and related crystals , representing an elaborated report of the author s research work is covered in following nine chapters. Chapter : I : General Introduction This chapter gives the general introduction to the subject and explains the objectives and the significance of the study. In this chapter occurrence of struvite crystals, crystal structure and physical properties of struvite crystals are briefly explained. Struvite is a component of urinary calculi, the in vivo growth and pathophysiology is discussed. Various types of crystallization of struvite and its applications are briefly reviewed. Chapter : II : Brief Review on Urinary Calculi This chapter describes a brief review on urinary calculi. It gives the general introduction to the human urinary system and its functioning in brief. It describes the terms like nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis, urinary calculi, i.e., kidney stones. It also describes the epidemiology of the urolithiasis. Various crystalline components of urinary calculi, general pathophysiology and etiology of urinary calculi, general biological events and risk factors leading to the formation of urinary calculi, symptoms, diagnosis and managemen (techniques for treatment) are explained in brief. Chapter : III : Crystal Growth Technique This chapter presents brief out line of various crystal growth techniques and especially focuses on the gel growth technique, which was used for the present study. The gel growth technique is one kind of modified version of solution growth technique. In the gel growth technique, growth occurs due to reaction between two solutions in a gel medium or achieving super-saturation by diffusion in gel medium. Slow and controlled diffusion of reactants in gels can mimic the condition in a body in a broad sense. Bio-crystallization usually occurs in the slow and steady process in the soft tissues, cavities or vessels.