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research article
Nanoscale ion mediated networks in bone: Osteopontin can repeatedly dissipate large amounts of energy
2007
In the nanocomposite bone, inorganic material is combined with several types of organic molecules, and these complexes have been proposed to increase the bone strength. Here we report on a mechanism of how one of these components, human osteopontin, forms large mechanical networks that can repeatedly dissipate energy through work against entropy by breaking sacrificial bonds and stretching hidden length. The behavior of these in vitro networks is similar to that of organic components in bone, acting as an adhesive layer in between mineralized fibrils.
Type
research article
Web of Science ID
WOS:000248657800057
Authors
Publication date
2007
Published in
Volume
7
Issue
8
Start page
2491
End page
2498
Peer reviewed
REVIEWED
EPFL units
Available on Infoscience
November 5, 2010
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