19 - Stress induced at the bone-particle-reinforced nanocomposite interface: a finite element approach

Abstract

An upsurge in interest concerning nanostructured materials in dentistry, orthopedics, and medicine has been observed during the past 10 years or so. Nanostructured materials are associated with a variety of applications within the biomedical field, for instance nanoparticles in drug-delivery system, in biomaterial science and diagnostic systems and in regenerative medicine. Nanocomposites can be described as a heterogeneous combination of two or more materials, in which at least one of those materials should be on a nanometer length scale. By using the composite approach, it is possible to manipulate the mechanical properties such as strength and modulus of the composites closer to that of natural bone, with the help of secondary substitution phases. Currently, the most common composite materials used for clinical applications are those selected from a handful of available and well-characterized biocompatible ceramics and the combination with metals and polymers as composites and hybrids. This approach is currently being explored in the development of a new generation of nanocomposites with a widened range of biomedical and dental applications. This chapter discuss how finite element analysis may be applied to model the nanocomposites in bones as well as in teeth. In this chapter, first the basic concepts of finite element analysis are explained. Further explanation is made to point out how each concept is applied to the implementation of the model of nanocomposites in bone. Particular attention is made to the justification of the key geometric and finite element features at the nanoparticle-matrix interface to ensure that useful information may be obtained from evaluation of the finite element. The final section discussed the area of orthopedic and dentistry in which finite element analysis may be applied to yield useful information concerning how nanoparticles interacts with the matrix in the composite and how this could in turn influence the surrounding microenvironment of the bone.