The mobility of polypeptide chains in cow femur bones controlled by an electric field

Abstract

The influence on the mobility of polypeptide chains caused by strain misfit due to molecular electric dipole distortions under applied electric fields up to 769 kV m⁻¹, in cow cortical femur samples annealed at 373 K, 423 K, and 530 K, is determined. The behaviour of strain misfit as a function of the electric field strength is determined from a mean-field model based on the Eshelby theory. In addition, Friedel's model for describing the mobility of dislocations in continuum media has been modified to determine the interaction energy between electrically generated obstacles and the polypeptide chains. Depending on the denaturation states from the bones due to the annealing treatments, the different locations of the activated dipoles and their effects on the mobility of the polypeptide chains were determined. Furthermore, it was also determined that dahllite does not affect the degree of chain mobility under an applied electric field. Dynamic mechanical analysis measurements conducted under a high electric field, differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry are used in the present work. To our knowledge, this is the first time dynamic mechanical analysis studies have been carried out on bones subjected to high electric fields.