A tough soft–hard interface in the human knee joint driven by multiscale toughening mechanisms
Abstract
Joining heterogeneous materials in engineered structures remains a significant challenge due to stress concentration at interfaces, which often leads to unexpected failures. Investigating the complex, multiscale-graded structures found in animal tissue provides valuable insights that can help address this challenge. The human meniscus root–bone interface is an exemplary model, renowned for its exceptional fatigue resistance, toughness, and interfacial adhesion properties throughout its lifespan. Here, we investigated the multiscale graded mineralization structure and their strengthening mechanisms within the 30-micron soft–hard interface at the root–bone junction. This graded interface, featuring interdigitated structures and an exponential increase in modulus, undergoes a phase transition from amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to gradually matured hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystals, regulated by location-specific distributed biomolecules. In coordination with collagen fibril deformation and reorientation, the in situ tensile mechanical experiments and molecular dynamic simulations revealed that immature ACP particles debond from the collagenous matrix and translocate to dissipate energy, while the progressively matured HAP crystals with high stiffness pins propagating cracks, thereby enhancing both the toughness and fatigue resistance of the interface. To further validate our findings, we built biomimetic soft–hard interfaces with phase-transforming mineralization which exhibited boosted strength, toughness, and interface adhesion. This interface model is generalizable to other material joints and provides a blueprint for developing robust soft–hard composites across various applications.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (20)
Wenyue Li
Department of Sports Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Xiaozhao Wang
Department of Sports Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Renwei Mao
Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University
Dong Li
Hongxu Meng
Department of Sports Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Ru Zhang
Jinghua Fang
Department of Sports Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Zhengzhong Kang
Beijing Life Science Academy
Boxuan Wu
Department of Sports Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Weiwei Ma
Equine Infectious Diseases and Lentiviruses Division, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Xudong Yao
Dr. Li Dak Sum and Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Chang Xie
Department of Sports Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Rui Li
Jin Wang
Xiao Chen
Xihao Pan
Department of Sports Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Weiqiu Chen
Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University
Wangping Duan
Department of Orthopedics, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University
Huajian Gao
Hongwei Ouyang
Department of Sports Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine