Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Bembey, A.K.
• Bushby, A.J.
• Boyde, A.
• Ferguson, V.L.
• Oyen, M.L.

Titel

Hydration effects on the micro-mechanical properties of bone

Ist Teil von

• Journal of materials research, 2006-08, Vol.21 (8), p.1962-1968

Ort / Verlag

New York, USA: Cambridge University Press

Erscheinungsjahr

2006

Quelle

Springer Online Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Bone is a composite material with hydroxyapatite mineral, collagen, and water as primary components. Water plays an important role in maintaining the mechanical integrity of the composite, but the manner in which water interacts within the collagen and mineral at ultrastructural length-scales is poorly understood. The current study examined changes in the mechanical properties of bone as a function of hydration state. Tissues were soaked in different solvents and solutions, with different polarities, to manipulate tissue hydration. Mineralized bone was characterized using nanoindentation creep tests for quantification of both the elastic and viscoelastic mechanical responses, which varied dramatically with tissue bathing solution. The results were considered within the context of solution physical chemistry. Selectively removing and then replacing water provided insights into the ultrastructure of the tissues via the corresponding changes in the experimentally determined mechanical responses.