Mechanical properties and failure of biopolymers: Atomistic reactions to macroscale response

Gang Seob Jung, Zhao Qin, Markus J. Buehler

Research output: Chapter in Book/Entry/PoemChapter

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The behavior of chemical bonding under various mechanical loadings is an intriguing mechanochemical property of biological materials, and the property plays a critical role in determining their deformation and failure mechanisms. Because of their astonishing mechanical properties and roles in constituting the basis of a variety of physiologically relevant materials, biological protein materials have been intensively studied. Understanding the relation between chemical bond networks (structures) and their mechanical properties offers great possibilities to enable new materials design in nanotechnology and new medical treatments for human diseases. Here we focus on how the chemical bonds in biological systems affect mechanical properties and how they change during mechanical deformation and failure. Three representative cases of biomaterials related to the human diseases are discussed in case studies, including: amyloids, intermediate filaments, and collagen, each describing mechanochemical features and how they relate to the pathological conditions at multiple scales.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationTopics in Current Chemistry
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages317-343
Number of pages27
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameTopics in Current Chemistry
Volume369
ISSN (Print)0340-1022

Keywords

  • Amyloidosis
  • Biological materials
  • Bone
  • Lamin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry

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