Nano-mechanical properties of individual mineralized collagen fibrils from bone tissue.
Mineralized collagen fibrils (MCFs) are distinct building blocks for bone material and perform an important mechanical function. A novel experimental technique using combined atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy is used to manipulate and measure the mechanical properties of individual MCFs from antler, which is a representative bone tissue. The recorded stress-strain response of individual MCFs under tension shows an initial linear deformation region for all fibrils, followed by inhomogeneous deformation above a critical strain. This inhomogeneous deformation is indicative of fibrils exhibiting either yield or strain hardening and suggests possible mineral compositional changes within each fibril. A phenomenological model is used to describe the fibril nano-mechanical behaviour.
Department of Materials, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
Fei
F
Hang
Asa H
AH
Barber
D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003670:Deer; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D003094:Collagen