Bone-related problems have always been a concern in the medical field, particularly how to heal and rebuild bones more rapidly when injuries occur. A path to solving such problems might be to examine the processes when bone develops in nature. This project aims at discovering the chemical reactions that occur when the cell-adhesion peptide arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) interacts with hydroxyapatite (HA) in aqueous solution. Associating peptides and biomaterials, which are linked to bone development, is important. Using molecular dynamics to simulate the interactions of RGD with HA in aqueous solution, the scientists were able to imitate the actual process that occurs in the body and achieve a better understanding of how bone development occurs. The research also sought insight into whether RGD inhibits or promotes the formation of new HA seed crystals. 

Last modified

• 07/23/2018

Creator

• Donald E. Ellis
• Paul J. Dalach
• Jodi-Ann Young

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N2H13N

Keyword

• Volume 6

Date created

• 2009

Resource type

• Article

Rights statement

• In Copyright