Nanomechanical Properties of Facial Sutures and Sutural Mineralization Front

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Abstract
The mechanical properties of craniofacial sutures have rarely been investigated. Three facial sutures—the pre-maxillomaxillary (PMS), the nasofrontal (NFS), and the zygomaticotemporal (ZTS)—and their corresponding sutural mineralization fronts in 8 young New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to nano-indentation with atomic force microscopy as a test of the hypothesis that they have different mechanical properties. The average elastic modulus of the PMS was 1.46 ± 0.24 MPa (mean ± SD), significantly higher than both the ZTS (1.20 ± 0.20) and NFS (1.16 ± 0.18). The average elastic moduli of sutural mineralization fronts 30 μm away were significantly higher than their corresponding sutures and had the same distribution pattern: the PMS (2.07 ± 0.24 MPa) significantly higher than both the ZTS (1.56 ± 0.29) and NFS (1.71 ± 0.22). Analysis of these data suggests that facial sutures and their immediately adjacent sutural mineralization fronts have different capacities for mechanical deformation. The elastic properties of sutures and sutural mineralization fronts are potentially useful for improving our understanding of their roles in development.