Piezoelectricity could predict sites of formation/resorption in bone remodelling and modelling

We have developed a mathematical approach for modelling the piezoelectric behaviour of bone tissue in order to evaluate the electrical surface charges in bone under different mechanical conditions. This model is able to explain how bones change their curvature, where osteoblasts or osteoclasts could detect in the periosteal/endosteal surfaces the different electrical charges promoting bone formation or resorption. This mechanism also allows to understand the BMU progression in function of the electromechanical bone behaviour. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.