ABSTRACT
Although we can replicate some physical properties of natural biomaterials, reproducing the complexity and e±ciency of natural tissue is challenging. For example, the strength and stiŸness of bone
24.1 Introduction to Polymer Nanocomposite Biomaterials ...........24-1 24.2 Important Structures and Properties ..........................................24-3
24.7 Conclusions....................................................................................24-19 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................24-19 Abbreviations ............................................................................................24-19 References ..................................................................................................24-20
is related to its highly ordered structure at the nano-and micro-length scales (Weiner and Traub 1992; Weiner and Wagner 1998). Cartilage has unique combinations of nonlinear tensile and compressive properties due to hierarchically arranged collagen ™brils, proteoglycans, and proteins (Mow et al. 1980; Mankin 1982; Buckwalter and Mankin 1997; Cohen et al. 1998). —e structural and mechanical properties of such natural tissue can be imitated by engineering bio-nanocomposites made from polymer and nanoparticles (nanospheres, nanotubes, nanoplatelets, etc.) (Engel et al. 2008; Ma 2008; Vaia and Baur 2008; Smith et al. 2009). —e nanoparticles o¹en act as physical cross-links to the polymer chains, which reinforce and enhance the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite biomaterial (Kotela et al. 2009; Schexnailder and Schmidt 2009; Smith et al. 2009; Zhang and Webster 2009).
