Mechanosensing and mechanochemical transduction in extracellular matrix: biological, chemical, engineering, and physiological aspects

Research into materials used in medicine is a fast-evolving subject that combines the biology and chemistry of tissue compatibility, the engineering of materials for function and durability, and the clinical requirements of physicians. Biological macromolecules (proteins, polysaccharides, nucleic acids, and lipids) are the main components of living material, so it is vital for engineers who work with living tissue to understand their chemical, mechanical and physical properties. This is the only single authored text on biological polymers available for bioengineering and biomedical engineering students. This book describes the structure of polymers and how these molecules are put together to make the tissues of the body and also their role in surgical implants and in structural diseases.