Affiliations: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – SOM‐Biomechanics and Rutgers University, Biomedical Engineering Program, Tr.# 4, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA | Orthopedic Research Laboratories, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales and Graduate School for Biomedical Engineering, University of South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia | Procter & Gamble, Miami Valley Laboratories, P.O. Box 538707, Cincinnati, OH 45253‐8707, USA
Note: [] For correspondence: N. Guzelsu, Ph.D., UMDNJ – SOM Biomechanics, Tr.# 4, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Tel.: 732 235 4329; Fax: 732 235 4030; E‐mail: Guzelsu@UMDNJ.edu.
Abstract: The effect of fluoride ions on the mechanical properties of bone tissue in tension was investigated with an in vitro model. Structurally effective Bone Mineral Content (BMC) of bovine bone tissue was changed by fluoride ion treatment. First, bovine cortical bone specimens were treated with a detergent solution in order to increase the diffusion rates of the treatment ions across the samples. After the initial treatment, different ion solutions were used to treat the tension samples (fluoride, sodium and chloride). Ionic strength and pH were varied. Experimental results showed that the sodium chloride solutions of different ionic strengths, at physiological and high pH, do not affect the mechanical properties of bone tissue in tension. However, uniform fluoride treatment across the samples reduced the mechanical strength of bone tissue by converting small amounts of bone mineral to mostly calcium fluoride. This action reduces the structurally effective BMC and also possibly effects the interface bonding between the bone mineral and the organic matrix of the bone tissue.
Keywords: Bone tissue, composite behavior, bone mineral content (BMC), mechanical properties, fluoride ions, mineral phase, organic phase, interfacial bonding
