This thesis was to develop bone-like matrices in order to a better understanding of physico-chemical mechanisms involved in bone formation. Bone is a complex composite material composed of an organic matrix (mainly collagen) with inorganic nanocrystals (apatite) that strengthen it. Our approach was to synthesize a dense collagen matrix which mimicked the bone hierarchical organization. A method has been developed for dense collagen matrix preparation, by which a collagen matrix with high fibrillar density, monodispersed fibrils and long-range hierarchical organization has been obtained. Before the mineralization study, we have compared and characterized synthesis apatite and biological apatite. Finally, specific experimental conditions based on a diffusion method have been developed to induce precipitation of biological-like apatite within a collagen matrix. We have showed that collagen in vitro can initiate and orientate the growth of carbonated apatite mineral in the absence of any other organic molecues. In this tissue-like collagen apatite matrix, size and distribution of apatite crystals are recreated as in bone. We have investigated the structure of those nanocrystals and compared them with biological apatite. The collagen apatite matrix was used as a simplified model for investigating the molecular interactions between the organic matrix and the mineral phase by NMR
