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The multiscale hierarchical structure of Heloderma suspectum osteoderms and their mechanical properties

Iacoviello, F; Kirby, AC; Javanmardi, Y; Moeendarbary, E; Shabanli, M; Tsolaki, E; Sharp, AC; ... Bertazzo, S; + view all (2020) The multiscale hierarchical structure of Heloderma suspectum osteoderms and their mechanical properties. Acta Biomaterialia , 107 pp. 194-203. 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.02.029. Green open access

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Abstract

Osteoderms are hard tissues embedded in the dermis of vertebrates and have been suggested to be formed from several different mineralized regions. However, their nano architecture and micro mechanical properties had not been fully characterized. Here, using electron microscopy, µ-CT, atomic force microscopy and finite element simulation, an in-depth characterization of osteoderms from the lizard Heloderma suspectum, is presented. Results show that osteoderms are made of three different mineralized regions: a dense apex, a fibre-enforced region comprising the majority of the osteoderm, and a bone-like region surrounding the vasculature. The dense apex is stiff, the fibre-enforced region is flexible and the mechanical properties of the bone-like region fall somewhere between the other two regions. Our finite element analyses suggest that when combined into the osteoderm structure, the distinct tissue regions are able to shield the body of the animal by dampening the external forces. These findings reveal the structure-function relationship of the Heloderma suspectum osteoderm in unprecedented detail.

Type: Article
Title: The multiscale hierarchical structure of Heloderma suspectum osteoderms and their mechanical properties
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.02.029
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.02.029
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Armor plates, Biomineralizations, Bones, Lizards, Osteoderms
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Institute of Ophthalmology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Cell and Developmental Biology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Mechanical Engineering
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Med Phys and Biomedical Eng
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10093005
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