Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42135298›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Enamel-inspired composite with robust mechanical properties and self-healing capability.

Xin Guo, Chen Cui, Kai-Xin Li, Ze-Yong Zhuang, Meng-Han Zhu, Fu-Xing Zhao, Jing-Tong Ye, Qian-Hao Pan, Yu-Tao Wang, Chen Chen and 8 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Xin Guo *Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Chen Cui *Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Kai-Xin LiDepartment of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Ze-Yong ZhuangGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Meng-Han ZhuDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Fu-Xing ZhaoDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-8927-5189
Jing-Tong YeDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Qian-Hao PanDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Yu-Tao WangDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Chen ChenDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Zong-Ying HuangDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Mei-Hua WangDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Xiao-Jing QiuDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Bang YuDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Li-Wen ZhangDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Jin-Long WangDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Zhen HeDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China. hez@sustech.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8565-9717
Shu-Hong YuDepartment of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China. yush@sustech.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3732-1011

Funding

Guangdong Innovative and Entrepreneurial Research Team Program 2023ZT10C027National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 22293044National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 22375083Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission KQTD20221101093559017Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission ZDSYS20220401161800001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Echoing the regenerative powers of living organisms, self-healing materials can recover from damage, extending their lifespan and enhancing dependability, thus holding broad applications promise across diverse fields, including biological tissue engineering, soft robotics, flexible electronics, and automotive industries. Nonetheless, self-healing materials typically suffer from poor mechanical properties, a limitation stemming from the inherent trade-off between mechanical robustness and self-healing capability. Inspired by dental enamel, we report a composite featuring an aligned array of hydroxyapatite nanowires (HAP NWs) interwoven with dynamic borate bond networks by a bidirectional freeze-drying method, boasting favorable mechanical robustness and high self-healing capabilities. Benefiting from the distinct enamel-like microstructure coupled with the strong interactions between the polymer matrix and the HAP NWs, this composite can effectively transmit stress and dissipate energy to prevent crack propagation. Therefore, an impressive mechanical modulus of 4.43 ± 0.09 GPa, strength of 173.47 ± 6.36 MPa, and toughness of 2.18 ± 0.20 MPa m

Identifiers

PMID42135298
PMCPMC13376776

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.