Pigment gallstones

The study of the processes and products of biomineral formation in various organs and tissues is of general scientific interest for solving practical issues related to the physiological functioning of living organisms. The object of the study was multiple pigment gallstones removed from the gallbladder in people living in the Komi Republic. The purpose of the work was a comprehensive study of the composition and structure of pigment gallstones, as well as a comparative analysis of the studied samples with natural organic carbon-containing mineraloids. The following methods were used during the study methods: X-ray diffraction (Shimadzu XRD-6000), IR-spectroscopic (InfraLum FT-02), thermal (TGA/DSC 3+), mass spectrometry (Elan-6100), chemical (EA-1110), atomic emission (Optima-4300 DV). The cleavages of the samples were studied by a scanning electron microscope with an X-Max energy-dispersive attachment (VEGA3 TESCAN) and atomic force microscope (Ntegra Prima (NT-MDT)). As a result of the studies, it was established that pigment gallstones contained an amorphous organic and mineral component - calcium bilirubinate, calcium carbonate (calcite, aragonite), calcium phosphate (magnesium-containing hydroxylapatite). Thermal-oxidative destruction of samples occured in the high-temperature region (500 ºC and above). Pigment gallstones belonged to formations with low carbon content. Microminerals in the samples were represented by classes of oxides, chlorides, silicates, carbonates and oxalates. Detailed studies of the nanostructure of pigment gallstones showed that it was represented by globule-like particles, the size and order of which varies. We newly revealed that pigment gallstones, according to a number of criteria, were similar to natural organic carbon-containing mineraloids.