Universita' degli Studi Perugia

We propose a model to reproduce qualitatively and quantitatively the experimental behavior obtained by the AFM techniques for the titin. Via an energetic based minimization approach we are able to deduce a simple analytical formulations for the description of the mechanical behavior of multidomain proteins, giving a physically base description of the unfolding mechanism. We also point out that our model can be inscribed in the led of the pseudo-elastic variational damage model with internal variable and fracture energy criteria of the continuum mechanics. The proposed model permits simple analytical calculations and

to reproduce hard-device experimental AFM procedures. The proposed model also permits the continuum limit approximation which maybe useful to the development of a three-dimensional multiscale constitutive model for biological tissues.