Figure 12.

Optical microscopy transmittance and fluorescence image of ss-CaCO₃ (a,b) and DEX-FITC loaded ss-HA/PLL ss-MGs (d,e), respectively. (c)—size distribution of the ss-CaCO₃ crystals; horizontal axes show a range of sizes, i.e., from 8 to 11. (f)—normalized fluorescence profiles taken across particles in (b,e); red line shows the place where the profiles have been taken. The optical microscopy images are brightness and contrast-enhanced, so the profile shape can only be compared in (f). Yellow and white arrows point to the calcite-based ss-CaCO₃ and ss-MGs and collapsed vaterite templated ss-MG, respectively. Of note, the ss-CaCO₃ crystals fabricated using one-step approach; for details, see experimental section.