Fractal-like hierarchical organization of bone begins at the nanoscale

Developmental tuning of mineralization drives morphological diversity of gill cover bones in sculpins and their relatives

The role of osteoblast placement in skeletal morphological variation is relatively well understood, but alternative developmental mechanisms affecting bone shape remain largely unknown. Specifically, very little attention has been paid to variation in later mineralization stages of intramembranous ossification as a driver of morphological diversity. We discover the occurrence of specific, sometimes large, regions of nonmineralized osteoid within bones that also contain mineralized tissue. We show through a variety of histological, molecular, and tomographic tests that this “extended” osteoid material is most likely nonmineralized bone matrix. This tissue type is a significant determinant of gill cover bone shape in the teleostean suborder Cottoidei. We demonstrate repeated evolution of extended osteoid in Cottoidei through ancestral state reconstruction and test for an association between extended osteoid variation and habitat differences among species. Through measurement of extended osteoid at various stages of gill cover development in species across the phylogeny, we gain insight into possible evolutionary developmental origins of the trait. We conclude that this fine‐tuned developmental regulation of bone matrix mineralization reflects heterochrony at multiple biological levels and is a novel mechanism for the evolution of diversity in skeletal morphology. This research lays the groundwork for a new model in which to study bone mineralization and evolutionary developmental processes, particularly as they may relate to adaptation during a prominent evolutionary radiation of fishes.

High-resolution large-area imaging of nanoscale structure and mineralization of a sclerosing osteosarcoma in human bone

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer type in humans. It is predominantly found in young individuals, with a second peak later in life. The tumour is formed by malignant osteoblasts and consists of collagenous, sometimes also mineralized, bone matrix. While the morphology of osteosarcoma has been well studied, there is virtually no information about the nanostructure of the tumour and changes in mineralization on the nanoscale level. In the present paper, human bone tissue inside, next to and remote from a sclerosing osteosarcoma was studied with small angle x-ray scattering, x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Quantitative evaluation of nanostructure parameters was combined with high resolution, large area mapping to obtain microscopic images with nanostructure parameter contrast. It was found that the tumour regions were characterized by a notable reduction in mineral particle size, while the mineral content was even higher than that in normal bone. Furthermore, the normal preferential orientation of mineral particles along the longitudinal direction of corticalis or trabeculae was largely suppressed. Also the bone mineral crystal structure was affected: severe crystal lattice distortions were detected in mineralized tumour tissue pointing to a different ion substitution of hydroxyl apatite in tumorous tissue than in healthy tissue.

Formation of stable strontium-rich amorphous calcium phosphate: Possible effects on bone mineral

Bone, tooth enamel, and dentin accumulate Sr²⁺, a natural trace element in the human body. Sr²⁺ comes from dietary and environmental sources and is thought to play a key role in osteoporosis treatments. However, the underlying impacts of Sr²⁺on bone mineralization remain unclear and the use of synthetic apatites (which are structurally different from bone mineral) and non-physiological conditions have led to contradictory results. Here, we report on the formation of a new Sr²⁺-rich and stable amorphous calcium phosphate phase, Sr(ACP). Relying on a bioinspired pathway, a series of Sr²⁺ substituted hydroxyapatite (HA) that combines the major bone mineral features is depicted as model to investigate how this phase forms and Sr²⁺ affects bone. In addition, by means of a comprehensive investigation the biomineralization pathway of Sr²⁺ bearing HA is described showing that not more than 10 at% of Sr²⁺, i.e. a physiological limit incorporated in bone, can be incorporated into HA without phase segregation. A combination of ³¹P and ¹H solid state NMR, energy electron loss spectromicroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy shows that Sr²⁺ introduces disorder in the HA culminating with the unexpected Sr(ACP), which co-exists with the HA under physiological conditions. These results suggest that heterogeneous Sr²⁺ distribution in bone is associated with regions of low structural organization. Going further, such observations give clues from the physicochemical standpoint to understand the defects in bone formation induced by high Sr²⁺ doses. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding the role played by Sr²⁺ has a relevant impact in physiological biomineralization and provides insights for its use as osteoporosis treatments. Previous studies inspired by the bone remodelling pathway led to the formation of biomimetic HA in terms of composition, structures and properties in water. Herein, by investigating different atomic percentage of Sr²⁺ related to Ca²⁺ in the synthesis, we demonstrate that 10% of Sr²⁺ is the critical loads into the biomimetic HA phase; similarly to bone. Unexpectedly, using higher amount leads to the formation of a stable Sr²⁺-rich amorphous calcium phosphate phase that may high-dose related pathologies. Our results provide further understanding of the different ways Sr²⁺ impacts bone.

Osteoblastic lysosome plays a central role in mineralization

Mineralization is the most fundamental process in vertebrates. It is predominantly mediated by osteoblasts, which secrete mineral precursors, most likely through matrix vesicles (MVs). These vesicular structures are calcium and phosphate rich and contain organic material such as acidic proteins. However, it remains largely unknown how intracellular MVs are transported and secreted. Here, we use scanning electron-assisted dielectric microscopy and super-resolution microscopy for assessing live osteoblasts in mineralizing conditions at a nanolevel resolution. We found that the calcium-containing vesicles were multivesicular bodies containing MVs. They were transported via lysosome and secreted by exocytosis. Thus, we present proof that the lysosome transports amorphous calcium phosphate within mineralizing osteoblasts.

Bone mineral: new insights into its chemical composition

Some compositional and structural features of mature bone mineral particles remain unclear. They have been described as calcium-deficient and hydroxyl-deficient carbonated hydroxyapatite particles in which a fraction of the PO₄^3- lattice sites are occupied by HPO₄^2- ions. The time has come to revise this description since it has now been proven that the surface of mature bone mineral particles is not in the form of hydroxyapatite but rather in the form of hydrated amorphous calcium phosphate. Using a combination of dedicated solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, the hydrogen-bearing species present in bone mineral and especially the HPO₄^2- ions were closely scrutinized. We show that these HPO₄^2- ions are concentrated at the surface of bone mineral particles in the so-called amorphous surface layer whose thickness was estimated here to be about 0.8 nm for a 4-nm thick particle. We also show that their molar proportion is much higher than previously estimated since they stand for about half of the overall amount of inorganic phosphate ions that compose bone mineral. As such, the mineral-mineral and mineral-biomolecule interfaces in bone tissue must be driven by metastable hydrated amorphous environments rich in HPO₄^2- ions rather than by stable crystalline environments of hydroxyapatite structure.

50 years of scanning electron microscopy of bone-a comprehensive overview of the important discoveries made and insights gained into bone material properties in health, disease, and taphonomy

Bone is an architecturally complex system that constantly undergoes structural and functional optimisation through renewal and repair. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is among the most frequently used instruments for examining bone. It offers the key advantage of very high spatial resolution coupled with a large depth of field and wide field of view. Interactions between incident electrons and atoms on the sample surface generate backscattered electrons, secondary electrons, and various other signals including X-rays that relay compositional and topographical information. Through selective removal or preservation of specific tissue components (organic, inorganic, cellular, vascular), their individual contribution(s) to the overall functional competence can be elucidated. With few restrictions on sample geometry and a variety of applicable sample-processing routes, a given sample may be conveniently adapted for multiple analytical methods. While a conventional SEM operates at high vacuum conditions that demand clean, dry, and electrically conductive samples, non-conductive materials (e.g., bone) can be imaged without significant modification from the natural state using an environmental scanning electron microscope. This review highlights important insights gained into bone microstructure and pathophysiology, bone response to implanted biomaterials, elemental analysis, SEM in paleoarchaeology, 3D imaging using focused ion beam techniques, correlative microscopy and in situ experiments. The capacity to image seamlessly across multiple length scales within the meso-micro-nano-continuum, the SEM lends itself to many unique and diverse applications, which attest to the versatility and user-friendly nature of this instrument for studying bone. Significant technological developments are anticipated for analysing bone using the SEM.

Top-down Fabrication of Spatially Controlled Mineral-Gradient Scaffolds for Interfacial Tissue Engineering

Materials engineering can generally be divided into "bottom-up" and "top-down" approaches, where current state-of-the-art methodologies are bottom-up, relying on the advent of atomic-scale technologies. Applying bottom-up approaches to biological tissues is challenging due to the inherent complexity of these systems. Top-down methodologies provide many advantages over bottom-up approaches for biological tissues, given that some of the complexity is already built into the system. Here, we generate interfacial scaffolds by the spatially controlled removal of mineral content from trabecular bone using a chelating solution. We controlled the degree and location of the mineral interface, producing scaffolds that support cell growth, while maintaining the hierarchical structure of these tissues. We characterized the structural and compositional gradients across the scaffold using X-ray diffraction, microcomputed tomography (μCT), and Raman microscopy, revealing the presence of mineral gradients on the scale of 20 - 40 μm. Using these data, we generated a model showing the dependence of mineral removal as function of time in the chelating solution and initial bone morphology, specifically trabecular density. These scaffolds will be useful for interfacial tissue engineering, with application in the fields of orthopedics, developmental biology, and cancer metastasis to bone.

Brillouin micro-spectroscopy of subchondral, trabecular bone and articular cartilage of the human femoral head

Brillouin micro-spectroscopy is applied for investigating the mechanical properties of bone and cartilage tissues of a human femoral head. Distinctive mechanical properties of the cartilage surface, subchondral and trabecular bone are reported, with marked heterogeneities at both micrometric and millimetric length scales. A ubiquitous soft component is reported for the first time, characterized by a longitudinal modulus of about 4.3 GPa, possibly related to the amorphous phase of the bone. This phase is mixed, at micrometric scales, with a harder component, ascribed to mineralized collagen fibrils, characterized by a longitudinal modulus ranging between 16 and 25 GPa.

A structural prospective for collagen receptors such as DDR and their binding of the collagen fibril

The structure of the collagen fibril surface directly effects and possibly assists the management of collagen receptor interactions. An important class of collagen receptors, the receptor tyrosine kinases of the Discoidin Domain Receptor family (DDR1 and DDR2), are differentially activated by specific collagen types and play important roles in cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and matrix remodeling. This review discusses their structure and function as it pertains directly to the fibrillar collagen structure with which they interact far more readily than they do with isolated molecular collagen. This prospective provides further insight into the mechanisms of activation and rational cellular control of this important class of receptors while also providing a comparison of DDR-collagen interactions with other receptors such as integrin and GPVI. When improperly regulated, DDR activation can lead to abnormal cellular proliferation activities such as in cancer. Hence how and when the DDRs associate with the major basis of mammalian tissue infrastructure, fibrillar collagen, should be of keen interest.

Synchrotron radiation techniques boost the research in bone tissue engineering

X-ray Synchrotron radiation-based techniques, in particular Micro-tomography and Micro-diffraction, were exploited to investigate the structure of bone deposited in vivo within a porous ceramic scaffold. Bone formation was studied by implanting Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) seeded ceramic scaffolds in a mouse model. Osteoblasts derived from the seeded MSC and from differentiation of cells migrated within the scaffold together with the blood vessels, deposited within the scaffold pores an organic collagenous matrix on which a precursor mineral amorphous liquid-phase, containing Ca++ and PO₄^-- crystallized filling the gaps between the collagen molecules. Histology offered a valid instrument to investigate the engineered tissue structure, but, unfortunately, limited itself to a macroscopic analysis. The evolution of the X-ray Synchrotron radiation-based techniques and the combination of micro X-ray diffraction with X-ray phase-contrast imaging enabled to study the dynamic of the structural and morphological changes occurring during the new bone deposition, biomineralization and vascularization. In fact, the unique features of Synchrotron radiation, is providing the high spatial resolution probe which is necessary for the study of complex materials presenting heterogeneity from micron-scale to meso- and nano-scale. Indeed, this is the occurrence in the heterogeneous and hierarchical bone tissue where an organic matter, such as the collagenous matrix, interacts with mineral nano-crystals to generate a hybrid multiscale biomaterial with unique physical properties. In this framework, the use of advanced synchrotron radiation techniques allowed to understand and to clarify fundamental aspects of the bone formation process within the bioceramic, i.e. biomineralization and vascularization, including to obtain deeper knowledge on bone deposition, mineralization and reabsorption in different health, aging and pathological conditions. In this review we present an overview of the X-ray Synchrotron radiation techniques and we provide a general outlook of their applications on bone Tissue Engineering, with a focus on our group work. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Synchrotron Radiation techniques for Tissue Engineering In this review we report recent applications of X-ray Synchrotron radiation-based techniques, in particular Microtomography and Microdiffraction, to investigations on the structure of ceramic scaffolds and bone tissue regeneration. Tissue engineering has made significant advances in bone regeneration by proposing the use of mesenchymal stem cells in combination with various types of scaffolds. The efficacy of the biomaterials used to date is not considered optimal in terms of resorbability and bone formation, resulting in a poor vascularization at the implant site. The review largely based on our publications in the last ten years could help the study of the regenerative model proposed. We also believe that the new imaging technologies we describe could be a starting point for the development of additional new techniques with the final aim of transferring them to the clinical practice.

Compressive behaviour of uniaxially aligned individual mineralised collagen fibres at the micro- and nanoscale

The increasing incidence of osteoporotic bone fractures makes fracture risk prediction an important clinical challenge. Computational models can be utilised to facilitate such analyses. However, they critically depend on bone's underlying hierarchical material description. To understand bone's irreversible behaviour at the micro- and nanoscale, we developed an in situ testing protocol that allows us to directly relate the experimental data to the mechanical behaviour of individual mineralised collagen fibres and its main constitutive phases, the mineralised collagen fibrils and the mineral nanocrystals, by combining micropillar compression of single fibres with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Failure modes were assessed by SEM. Strain ratios in the elastic region at fibre, fibril and mineral levels were found to be approximately 22:5:2 with strain ratios at the point of compressive strength of 0.23 ± 0.11 for fibril-to-fibre and 0.07 ± 0.01 for mineral-to-fibre levels. Mineral-to-fibre levels showed highest strain ratios around the apparent yield point, fibril-to-fibre around apparent strength. The mineralised collagen fibrils showed a delayed mechanical response, contrary to the mineral phase, which points towards preceding deformations of mineral nanocrystals in the extrafibrillar matrix. No damage was measured at the level of the mineralised collagen fibre which indicates an incomplete separation of the mineral and collagen, and an extrafibrillar interface failure. The formation of kink bands and the gradual recruitment of fibrils upon compressive loading presumably led to localised strains. Our results from a well-controlled fibrillar architecture provide valuable input for micromechanical models and computational non-linear bone strength analyses that may provide further insights for personalised diagnosis and treatment as well as bio-inspired implants for patients with bone diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis or bone cancer significantly challenge health care systems and make fracture risk prediction and treatment optimisation important clinical goals. Computational methods such as finite element models have the potential to optimise analyses but highly depend on underlying material descriptions. We developed an in situ testing set-up to directly relate experimental data to the mechanical behaviour of bone's fundamental building block, the individual mineralised collagen fibre and its main constituents. Low multilevel strain ratios suggest high deformations in the extrafibrillar matrix and energy dissipation at the interfaces, the absence of damage indicates both an incomplete separation between mineral and collagen and an extrafibrillar interface failure. The formation of kink bands in the fibril-reinforced composite presumably led to localised strains. The deformation behaviour of a well-controlled fibrillar architecture provides valuable input for non-linear bone strength analyses.

Mammoth ivory was the most suitable osseous raw material for the production of Late Pleistocene big game projectile points

Late Pleistocene societies throughout the northern hemisphere used mammoth and mastodon ivory not only for art and adornment, but also for tools, in particular projectile points. A comparative analysis of the mechanical properties of tusk dentine from woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana) reveals similar longitudinal stiffness values that are comparable to those of cervid antler compacta. The longitudinal bending strength and work of fracture of proboscidean ivory are very high owing to its substantial collagen content and specific microstructure. In permafrost, these properties can be fully retained for thousands of years. Owing to the unique combination of stiffness, toughness and size, ivory was obviously the most suitable osseous raw material for massive projectile points used in big game hunting.

Hierarchical Nanoparticle Assemblies Formed via One-Step Catalytic Stamp Pattern Transfer

The one-step catalytic stamp pattern transfer process is described for producing arrays of hierarchical nanoparticle assemblies. The method simply combines in situ nanoparticle synthesis triggered by free residual Si-H groups on PDMS stamps and the lift-off pattern transfer technique. No additional nanoparticle synthesis procedure is required before the pattern transfer process. Exquisitely uniform and precisely spaced hierarchical nanoparticle assemblies with designed geometry can be rapidly produced using the catalytic stamp pattern transfer process. Sequential catalytic stamp pattern transfer also is described to generate multilayered, hierarchical nanoparticle assemblies with various geometries. The hierarchical nanoparticle assemblies catalytically transferred onto the surface are not just nanoparticles but nanoparticle-polydimethylsiloxane residue composites. The in situ-synthesized nanoparticles retain optical properties. The hierarchical nanoparticle assemblies with precisely controlled geometry further show potential in the application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The capability of one-step catalytic stamp pattern transfer allows the scalable and reproducible fabrication of well-defined hierarchical nanoparticle assemblies.

Osseointegration and current interpretations of the bone-implant interface

Complex physical and chemical interactions take place in the interface between the implant surface and bone. Various descriptions of the ultrastructural arrangement to various implant design features, ranging from solid and macroporous geometries to surface modifications on the micron-, submicron-, and nano- levels, have been put forward. Here, the current knowledge regarding structural organisation of the bone-implant interface is reviewed with a focus on solid devices, mainly metal (or alloy) intended for permanent anchorage in bone. Certain biomaterials that undergo surface and bulk degradation are also considered. The bone-implant interface is a heterogeneous zone consisting of mineralised, partially mineralised, and unmineralised areas. Within the meso-micro-nano-continuum, mineralised collagen fibrils form the structural basis of the bone-implant interface, in addition to accumulation of non-collagenous macromolecules such as osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin. In the published literature, as many as eight distinct arrangements of the bone-implant interface ultrastructure have been described. The interpretation is influenced by the in vivo model and species-specific characteristics, healing time point(s), physico-chemical properties of the implant surface, implant geometry, sample preparation route(s) and associated artefacts, analytical technique(s) and their limitations, and non-compromised vs compromised local tissue conditions. The understanding of the ultrastructure of the interface under experimental conditions is rapidly evolving due to the introduction of novel techniques for sample preparation and analysis. Nevertheless, the current understanding of the interface zone in humans in relation to clinical implant performance is still hampered by the shortcomings of clinical methods for resolving the finer details of the bone-implant interface. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Being a hierarchical material by design, the overall strength of bone is governed by composition and structure. Understanding the structure of the bone-implant interface is essential in the development of novel bone repair materials and strategies, and their long-term success. Here, the current knowledge regarding the eventual structural organisation of the bone-implant interface is reviewed, with a focus on solid devices intended for permanent anchorage in bone, and certain biomaterials that undergo surface and bulk degradation. The bone-implant interface is a heterogeneous zone consisting of mineralised, partially mineralised, and unmineralised areas. Within the meso-micro-nano-continuum, mineralised collagen fibrils form the structural basis of the bone-implant interface, in addition to accumulation of non-collagenous macromolecules such as osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin.

Organization of Bone Mineral: The Role of Mineral–Water Interactions

The mechanism (s) that drive the organization of bone mineral throughout the bone extracellular matrix remain unclear. The long-standing theory implicates the organic matrix, namely specific non-collagenous proteins and/or collagen fibrils, while a recent theory proposes a self-assembly mechanism. Applying a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques in wet and dry conditions to bone-like hydroxyapatite nanoparticles that were used as a proxy for bone mineral, we confirm that mature bone mineral particles have the capacity to self-assemble into organized structures. A large quantity of water is present at the surface of bone mineral due to the presence of a hydrophilic, amorphous surface layer that coats bone mineral nanoparticles. These water molecules must not only be strongly bound to the surface of bone mineral in the form of a rigid hydration shell, but they must also be trapped within the amorphous surface layer. Cohesive forces between these water molecules present at the mineral–mineral interface not only hold the mature bone mineral particles together, but also promote their oriented stacking. This intrinsic ability of mature bone mineral particles to organize themselves without recourse to the organic matrix forms the foundation for the development of the next generation of orthopedic biomaterials.

Ultrastrong Translucent Glass Ceramic with Nanocrystalline, Biomimetic Structure

Transparent/translucent glass ceramics (GCs) have broad applications in biomedicine, armor, energy, and constructions. However, GCs with improved optical properties typically suffer from impaired mechanical properties, compared to traditional sintered full-ceramics. We present a method of obtaining high-strength, translucent GCs by preparing ZrO₂-SiO₂ nanocrystalline glass ceramics (NCGCs) with a microstructure of monocrystalline ZrO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), embedded in an amorphous SiO₂ matrix. The ZrO₂-SiO₂ NCGC with a composition of 65%ZrO/35%SiO₂ (molar ratio, 65Zr) achieved an average flexural strength of 1 GPa. This is one of the highest flexural strength values ever reported for GCs. ZrO₂ NPs bond strongly with SiO₂ matrix due to the formation of a thin (2-3 nm) amorphous Zr/Si interfacial layer between the ZrO₂ NPs and SiO₂ matrix. The diffusion of Si atoms into the ZrO₂ NPs forms a Zr-O-Si superlattice. Electron tomography results show that some of the ZrO₂ NPs are connected in one direction, forming in situ ZrO₂ nanofibers (with length of ∼500 nm), and that the ZrO₂ nanofibers are stacked in an ordered way in all three dimensions. The nanoarchitecture of the ZrO₂ nanofibers mimics the architecture of mineralized collagen fibril in cortical bone. Strong interface bonding enables efficient load transfer from the SiO₂ matrix to the 3D nanoarchitecture built by ZrO₂ nanofibers and NPs, and the 3D nanoarchitecture carries the majority of the external load. These two factors synergistically contribute to the high strength of the 65Zr NCGC. This study deepens our fundamental understanding of the microstructure-mechanical strength relationship, which could guide the design and manufacture of other high-strength, translucent GCs.

Biomineralization-Inspired Material Design for Bone Regeneration

Synthetic substitutes of bone grafts, such as calcium phosphate-based ceramics, have shown some good clinical successes in the regeneration of large bone defects and are currently extensively used. In the past decade, the field of biomineralization has delivered important new fundamental knowledge and techniques to better understand this fascinating phenomenon. This knowledge is also applied in the field of biomaterials, with the aim of bringing the composition and structure, and hence the performance, of synthetic bone graft substitutes even closer to those of the extracellular matrix of bone. The purpose of this progress report is to critically review advances in mimicking the extracellular matrix of bone as a strategy for development of new materials for bone regeneration. Lab-made biomimicking or bioinspired materials are discussed against the background of the natural extracellular matrix, starting from basic organic and inorganic components, and progressing into the building block of bone, the mineralized collagen fibril, and finally larger, 2D and 3D constructs. Moreover, bioactivity studies on state-of-the-art biomimicking materials are discussed. By addressing these different topics, an overview is given of how far the field has advanced toward a true bone-mimicking material, and some suggestions are offered for bridging current knowledge and technical gaps.

Hierarchical Characterization and Nanomechanical Assessment of Biomimetic Scaffolds Mimicking Lamellar Bone via Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation

The hierarchical structure of bone and intrinsic material properties of its two primary constituents, carbonated apatite and fibrillar collagen, when being synergistically organized into an interpenetrating hard-soft composite, contribute to its excellent mechanical properties. Lamellar bone is the predominant structural motif in mammalian hard tissues; therefore, we believe the fabrication of a collagen/apatite composite with a hierarchical structure that emulates bone, consisting of a dense lamellar microstructure and a mineralized collagen fibril nanostructure, is an important first step toward the goal of regenerative bone tissue engineering. In this work, we exploit the liquid crystalline properties of collagen to fabricate dense matrices that assemble with cholesteric organization. The matrices were crosslinked via carbodiimide chemistry to improve mechanical properties, and are subsequently mineralized via the polymer-induced liquid-precursor (PILP) process to promote intrafibrillar mineralization. Neither the crosslinking procedure nor the mineralization affected the cholesteric collagen microstructures; notably, there was a positive trend toward higher stiffness with increasing crosslink density when measured by cantilever-based atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation. In the dry state, the average moduli of moderately (X51; 4.8 ± 4.3 GPa) and highly (X76; 7.8 ± 6.7 GPa) crosslinked PILP-mineralized liquid crystalline collagen (LCC) scaffolds were higher than the average modulus of bovine bone (5.5 ± 5.6 GPa).