Hard biological materials—for example, seashells, bone or wood—fulfil critical structural
functions and display unique and attractive combinations of stiffness, strength and …

X-ray computer tomography (CT) is fast becoming an accepted tool within the materials
science community for the acquisition of 3D images. Here the authors review the current …

Collagen is a ubiquitous protein with remarkable mechanical properties. It is highly elastic,
shows large fracture strength and enables substantial energy dissipation during …

Zebrafish are teleosts (bony fish) that share with mammals a common ancestor belonging to
the phylum Osteichthyes, from which their endoskeletal systems have been inherited …

The growing incidence of skeletal fractures poses a significant challenge to ageing
societies. Since a major part of physiological loading in the lower limbs is carried by cortical …

Concurrent with a progressive loss of regenerative capacity, connective tissue aging is
characterized by a progressive accumulation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) …

Arapaima gigas, a fresh water fish found in the Amazon Basin, resist predation by piranhas
through the strength and toughness of their scales, which act as natural dermal armour …

Skeletal fragility in the elderly does not simply result from a loss of bone mass. However, the
mechanisms underlying the concurrent decline in bone mass, quality, and …

It is well known that bone loss accompanies aging in both men and women and contributes
to skeletal fragility in the older population, but changes that occur to the bone tissue matrix …

Bone comprises a complex structure of primarily collagen, hydroxyapatite and water, where
each hierarchical structural level contributes to its strength, ductility and toughness. These …