Takes a materials science approach, correlating structure-property relationships with function across a broad range of biological materials.

The ongoing process of bio-evolution has produced materials which are perfectly adapted to fulfil a specific functional role. The natural world provides us with a multitude of examples of materials with durability, strength, mechanisms of programmed self-assembly and biodegradability. The materials industry has sought to observe and appreciate the relationship between structure, properties and function of these biological materials. A multidisciplinary approach, building on recent advances at the forefront of physics, chemistry and molecular biology, has been successful in producing many synthetic structures with interesting and useful properties. Structural Biological Materials: Design and Structure-Property Relationships represents an invaluable reference in the field of biological materials science and provides an incisive view into this rapidly developing and increasingly important topic within materials science.This book focuses on the study of three sub-groups of structural biological materials:• Hard tissue engineering, focussing on cortical bone • Soft tissue engineering • Fibrous materials, particularly engineering with silk fibers.The fundamental relationship between structure and properties, and certain aspects of design and engineering, are explored in each of the sub-groups. The importance of these materials, both in their intrinsic properties and specific functions, are illustrated with relevant examples. These depict the successful integration of material properties, architecture and shape, providing a wide range of optimised designs, tailored to specific functions.Edited by Manuel Elices of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain, this book is Volume 4 in the Pergamon Material Series.

Fundamentals of Molecular Structural Biology reviews the mathematical and physical foundations of molecular structural biology. Based on these fundamental concepts, it then describes molecular structure and explains basic genetic mechanisms. Given the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research, early career researchers and those shifting into an adjacent field often require a "fundamentals" book to get them up-to-speed on the foundations of a particular field. This book fills that niche.

"This book should go a long way towards filling the communication gap between biology and physics in the area of biomaterials]. It begins with the basic theory of elasticity and viscoelasticity, describing concepts like stress, strain, compliance, and plasticity in simple mathematical terms. . . . For the non-biologist, these chapters provide a clear account of macromolecular structure and conformation. . . . Vincent's work] is a delight to read, full of interesting anecdotes and examples from unexpected sources. . . . I can strongly recommend this book, as it shows how biologists could use mechanical properties as well as conventional methods to deduce molecular structure."--Anna Furth, The Times Higher Education Supplement In what is now recognized as a standard introduction to biomaterials, Julian Vincent presents a biologist's analysis of the structural materials of organisms, using molecular biology as a starting point. He explores the chemical structure of both proteins and polysaccharides, illustrating how their composition and bonding determine the mechanical properties of the materials in which they occurincluding pliant composites such as skin, artery, and plant tissue; stiff composites such as insect cuticle and wood; and biological ceramics such as teeth, bone, and eggshell. Here Vincent discusses the possibilities of taking ideas from nature with biomimicry and "intelligent" (or self-designing and sensitive) materials.

This book provides a comprehensive coverage of the basic principles of structural biology, as well as an up-to-date summary of some main directions of research in the field. The relationship between structure and function is described in detail for soluble proteins, membrane proteins, membranes, and nucleic acids.There are several books covering protein structure and function, but none that give a complete picture, including nucleic acids, lipids, membranes and carbohydrates, all being of central importance in structural biology.The book covers state-of-the-art research in various areas. It is unique for its breadth of coverage by experts in the fields. The book is richly illustrated with more than 400 color figures to highlight the wide range of structures.

This is the second monograph by the author on biological materials of marine origin. The initial book is dedicated to the biological materials of marine invertebrates. This work is a source of modern knowledge on biomineralization, biomimetics and materials science with respect to marine vertebrates. For the first time in scientific literature the author gives the most coherent analysis of the nature, origin and evolution of biocomposites and biopolymers isolated from and observed in the broad variety of marine vertebrate organisms (fish, reptilian, birds and mammals) and within their unique hierarchically organized structural formations. There is a wealth of new and newly synthesized information, including dozens of previously unpublished images of unique marine creatures including extinct, extant and living taxa and their biocomposite-based structures from nano- to micro – and macroscale. This monograph reviews the most relevant advances in the marine biological materials research field, pointing out several approaches being introduced and explored by distinct modern laboratories.

Introductory Biomaterials enables undergraduate students in Biomedical, Chemical, Materials and other relevant Engineering disciplines to become familiar with the key concepts of Biomaterials principles: biocompatibility, structure-property-applications relationships, mechanical response of natural tissues, and cellular pathways for tissue-material ingrowth. Written in a clear, concise manner that weds theory with applications, this book helps students to understand the often intricate relationships between materials the implant devices that are made from them, and how the human body reacts to them. The book includes such concepts as requirements for metals, alloys, and ceramic materials to be used in load bearing implants (corrosion concepts, stress shielding, mechanical properties, composition), what properties of polymers impact their use in medicine (leaching and swelling, creep and stress relaxation); the tissue response to biomaterials, concepts related to drug delivery applications (polymer degradation, encapsulation), and tissue engineering (scaffold porosity, diffusion of nutrients, mechanical properties). - Begins with structure-properties, followed immediately by their impact on actual biomaterials classes and devices, thus directly relating theory to applications (e.g. polymers to polymeric stents; metals to fracture fixation devices) - Explains concepts in a clear, progressive manner, with numerous examples and figures to enhance student learning - Covers all key biomaterials classes: metallic, ceramic, polymeric, composite and biological - Includes a timely chapter on medical device regulation