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Thank a Genius
Created: 2012-01-19
Updated: 2012-01-19

Bones self-heal: vertebrates


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Osteoclasts/osteoblasts of bones maintain skeletal homeostasis by resorbing bone/forming newly synthesized matrix.

Biomimicry Taxonomy
 
Taxonomy_1 Maintain physical integrity >
Taxonomy_2 Prevent structural failure >
Taxonomy_3 Fracture (rupture)
Biomimetic Application Ideas
 
  • Self-healing material such as concrete and ceramics
  • Building materials that adjust to internal and external stresses
  • Creating lightweight, yet strong materials

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[Collapse all sections] Summary
"Bone remodeling is the result of the coordinated activity of osteoblasts, which form new matrix, and osteoclasts, which resorb bone…Bone remodeling is a temporally and spatially regulated process that results in the coordinated resorption and formation of skeletal tissue (1). Bone remodeling is carried out in basic multicellular units in which osteoclasts resorb bone and osteoblasts form newly synthesized matrix in a coordinated process that takes about 4 months…The number and function of osteoclasts and osteoblasts are regulated by extracellular and intracellular signals acting in a coordinated fashion to maintain skeletal homeostasis." (Canalis 2008:1)

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About the inspiring organism
Vertebrata
Vertebrata


Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist
Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Self-healing material such as concrete and ceramics. Building materials that adjust to internal and external stresses by adding or removing material as needed. Creating lightweight, yet strong materials by taking away unneeded material and adding material where stresses are greatest.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Construction, manufacturing

CAO and SKO design software - Lightweighting software to use with FEM (Finite Element Method)

Self-repairing Concrete - Concrete

Self-healing Autonomous Material - Autonomous adaptive structures

Self-repairing concrete - Self-repairing concrete structures

Self-repairing polymer composites - Self-repairing polymer composites

Experts
Department of Research
Ernesto Canalis
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
References
Canalis, E. 2008. Notch Signaling in Osteoblasts. Science Signaling. 1(17):
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