Nanoindentation of wet and dry compact bone: Influence of environment and indenter tip geometry on the indentation modulus

The indentation-derived elastic modulus, E, of bovine compact bone was obtained by nanoindentation. The indentation modulus of the dry condition (i.e. under atmospheric conditions) is 40% higher than when measured wet (i.e. immersed in buffer solution). Although this difference is independent of orientation, there is a 20% difference in the indentation modulus within the same tested environment between longitudinal and transversal directions. In addition, the estimated indentation modulus of the same samples when tested wet in buffer solution after deep freezing (-15 degrees C) was not affected. The discrepancy between wet and dry results was attributed to the non-mineralized phase contribution and rationalized by a simple mechanical model [I. Jager and P. Fratzl, Biophys. J. 79 (2000) p. 1737]. Anisotropy effects could be explained in terms of deformation mechanisms with orientation. The effect of frozen storage temperatures may be clarified considering the biomechanics of the helicoidal arrangement of lamellar bone. Viscoelastic effects were also considered and incorporated into analysis of the force-displacement data.