Effect of fluoride incorporation on the mineral-organic interface of rat cortical bone

The strength and stiffness of bone is determined largely by the interfacial bonding between the mineral fibers and the organic constituents of bone. Specifically absorbed ions such as fluoride can be used to disrupt the strong adsorption affinity between the mineral and organic phase thereby causing significant changes in the mechanical properties of the bone and the surface characteristics of the mineral. Fluoride incorporation in vitro can be used as a technique to qualify changes in interfacial interactions as a function of the maturity of the bone.