JMR Focus Issue: Mechanics of Biological and Biomimetic Materials at Small Length-Scales

Topics Solicited | Guest Editors | Manuscript Submission | Advertise in this Issue

Many biological materials, although composed of relatively weak constituents, exhibit exceptional mechanical properties due to hierarchical structural and compositional variations at many length-scales. Since structural and mechanical degradation lies at the core of many diseases, the biomechanical behavior of tissues that perform mechanical functions in vivo is significant. A fundamental understanding of biomechanics is also closely linked to the development of improved replacement biomaterials. Although the field of biomechanics has been studied for a number of years, many new and emerging subspecialties have appeared recently, including multi-scale theoretical modeling, nanoindentation and nanotribology, nanomechanics of individual biological constituents, single cell mechanics, the synthesis and design of new biomimetic architectures, and examination of bioadhesion and biolubrication. These advances within the field of biomechanics have great potential to enhance the development of engineered materials for non-biological applications.

The Journal of Materials Research will publish a focus issue in 2006 to examine recent developments in biomechanics. Contributed papers are solicited in the following areas:

• Multi-scale experimental and theoretical studies of mechanical behavior in natural biological materials including mineralized tissues, soft tissues, and plant materials
• Multi-scale experimental and theoretical mechanical studies of biomimetic materials including engineered tissues, artificial organs, and bio-inspired graft materials
• Changes in mechanical properties in biological and biomimetic systems due to biological or biochemical processes such as wound healing and growth factor additions
• Comparison between the mechanical behavior of biological materials and their counterpart biomimetic materials
• Time-dependent mechanical behavior and testing techniques used to characterize hydrated biological and biomimetic materials
• Mechanical studies of structural features in tissues such as a cell membranes or processes, cement lines in bone, the dentin-enamel junction, or the cartilage pericellular matrix
• Nanoscale interactions between constituents of biological materials, such as adhesion, electrostatic repulsion, macromolecular entanglements, interlocking nanoasperities, and frictional and lubrication properties.
• Techniques for characterization of biological and biomimetic materials at the ultrastructural level, including nanoindentation and scanning probe techniques

Adrian Mann of Rutgers University, Andrew J. Bushby of the University of London Queen Mary, Christine Ortiz of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Michelle L. Oyen of the University of Virginia will serve as the Focus Issue co-editors.

To be considered for this issue, manuscripts must be submitted via the JMR electronic submission system by December 21, 2005. Manuscripts submitted after this deadline will not be considered for the issue due to time constraints on the review process.

Instructions for manuscript preparation and submission can be found at http://lucy.mrs.org/publications/jmr. When submitting, please be sure to select "Focus Issue: Mechanics of Biological and Biomimetic Materials " as the manuscript type so that it can be routed to the Focus Issue co-editors. All manuscripts will be reviewed in a normal but expedited fashion. Papers submitted by the deadline and subsequently accepted will be published in the August 2006 Focus Issue . Other manuscripts that are acceptable but cannot be included in the August 2006 issue will be scheduled for publication in a subsequent issue of JMR .

Please contact mailto:jmr@mrs.orgwith questions.

Tap into your target audience with an ad in this Special Focus Issue. Contact Mary E. Kaufold at 724-779-8312 or mailto:kaufold@mrs.orgfor more information.