Image credit: Eric Schmuttenmaur via Flickr (CC: Att/SA)
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Dr Melinda Duer's research group revealed that a significant part of bone mineral is actually a gel-like phase.
This gel-like phase is formed from water, citrate and phosphatic groups which is trapped between nanoscopic plate-like crystals. This arrangement allows movement between platelet crystals and so probably confers flexibility to the mineral component of bone. The work has been published in journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and was reviewed today in the Times. Further information is available at the University's Research Website.