Multiscale engineered artificial tooth enamel

Tooth enamel, renowned for its high stiffness, hardness, and viscoelasticity, is an ideal model for designing biomimetic materials, but accurate replication of complex hierarchical organization of high-performance biomaterials in scalable abiological composites is challenging. We engineered an enamel analog with the essential hierarchical structure at multiple scales through assembly of amorphous intergranular phase (AIP)-coated hydroxyapatite nanowires intertwined with polyvinyl alcohol. The nanocomposite simultaneously exhibited high stiffness, hardness, strength, viscoelasticity, and toughness, exceeding the properties of enamel and previously manufactured bulk enamel-inspired materials. The presence of AIP, polymer confinement, and strong interfacial adhesion are all needed for high mechanical performance. This multiscale design is suitable for scalable production of high-performance materials.

Automated summary

Accurate replication and scalable production of high-performance biomaterials are challenging, but a newly engineered enamel analog with hierarchical structure at multiple scales shows promising results.