The figure shows the results of regionalisation of murine cortical bone, which reveals region-specific microstructural properties. Panels A-C show images of regional microstructure quantification, namely intracortical canals and osteocyte lacunae mapped by size. Panels D-G show graphs of regionalised and quantified cortical porosity, canal number density, lacunar number density and average lacunar volume.

@jtrendbio.bsky.social, @clarkinbonebiol.bsky.social & co used synchrotron X-ray computed tomography to characterise the distribution and structure of intracortical canals and #osteocyte lacunae, helping identify molecular drivers of age-related cortical porosity.
Read: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....

The physico-chemical characteristics of bone mineral remain heavily debated. On the nanoscale, bone mineral resides both inside and outside the collagen fibril as distinct compartments fused together into a cohesive continuum. On the micrometre level, larger aggregates are arranged in a staggered pattern described as crossfibrillar tessellation. Unlike geological and synthetic hydroxy(l)apatite, bone mineral is a unique form of apatite deficient in calcium and hydroxyl ions with distinctive carbonate and acid phosphate substitutions (CHAp), together with a minor contribution of amorphous calcium phosphate as a surface layer around a crystalline core of CHAp. In mammalian bone, an amorphous solid phase has not been observed, though an age-dependent shift in the amorphous-to-crystalline character is observed. Although octacalcium phosphate has been postulated as a bone mineral precursor, there is inconsistent evidence of calcium phosphate phases other than CHAp in the extracellular matrix. In association with micropetrosis, magnesium whitlockite is occasionally detected, indicating pathological calcification rather than a true extracellular matrix component. Therefore, the terms ‘biomimetic’ or ‘bone-like’ should be used cautiously in descriptions of synthetic biomaterials. The practice of reporting the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (Ca/P) as proxy for bone mineral maturity oversimplifies the chemistry since both Ca2+ and PO43- ions are partially substituted. Moreover, non-mineral sources of phosphorus are ignored. Alternative compositional metrics should be considered. In the context of bone tissue and bone mineral, the term ‘mature’ must be used carefully, with clear criteria that consider both compositional and structural parameters and the potential impact on mechanical properties.

🔥Hot off the press🔥 "Revisiting the physical and chemical nature of the mineral component of bone" 🦴🔬
doi.org/10.1016/j.ac...
🧪

#bone #biomaterials #apatite #mineral #biomineralization #collagen #calcium #phosphate #hydroxyapatite #osteocyte #biology #medicine #osteology #osteoarchaeology

This is an Osteocyte. It lives in bone and reaches out to implants and biomaterials through cellular extensions [ * ]. It frequently talks to other osteocytes and orchestrates bone remodelling. Be like the Osteocyte!

🧪🔬🦴 This is an #Osteocyte

It lives in #bone and reaches out to #implants and #biomaterials through cellular extensions [ * ]

It frequently talks to other osteocytes and orchestrates bone remodelling

Be like the Osteocyte =)

* Scanning electron microscopy
** Horizontal field width = 27 µm

Redirecting

“Bone mineral organization at the mesoscale: A review of mineral ellipsoids in bone and at bone interfaces”

🧪🔬🦴🩻

doi.org/10.1016/j.ac...

#bone #biomaterials #science #microscopy #electronmicroscopy #bioimaging #imaging #osteocyte #collagen #apatite #science #engineering #biology #physics

Bone consists of either a porous trabecular framework or a dense cortical structure – both are types of lamellar bone. Lamellae exhibit a twisted plywood arrangement, where neighbouring lamellae have different fibril orientations. Osteocytes reside in lacunae interconnected through canaliculi. Lamellae are composed of collagen fibrils surrounded by extrafibrillar mineral platelets. Within the fibrils, type-I collagen molecules and carbonated apatite crystallites form a nanocomposite structure.

🦴🩻🔬🧪 The complex hierarchical structure of bone, where smaller building blocks form progressively larger structures.

Full description in ALT text.

doi.org/10.1016/j.ac...

#bone #osteocyte #biomaterials #osteology #biology #materialsscience #structuralbiology #orthopaedics #microscopy #bioimaging

A 3D bioreactor model to study osteocyte differentiation and mechanobiology under perfusion and compressive mechanical loading Osteocytes perceive and process mechanical stimuli in the lacuno-canalicular network in bone. As a result, they secrete signaling molecules that media…

Check out this brand new interesting paper I am happy to have contributed to: A 3D #bioreactor model to study #osteocyte differentiation and #mechanobiology under perfusion and compressive mechanical loading
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Continual bone apposition at the cranial sutures provides the unique opportunity to understand how bone is built. Interdigitated finger-like projections form the interface between frontal and parietal bones. Viewed from the surface, bone mineral at the mineralisation front is comprised of nanoscale mineral platelets arranged into discrete, ~0.6–3.5 μm high and ~0.2–1.5 μm wide, marquise-shaped motifs that gradually evolve into a continuous interwoven mesh of mineralised bundles. Marquise-shaped motifs also contribute to the burial of osteoblastic–osteocytes by contributing to the roof over the lacunae. In cross-section, apices of the finger-like projections resemble islands of mineralised tissue, where new bone apposition at the surface is evident as low mineral density areas, while the marquise-shaped motifs appear as near-equiaxed assemblies of mineral platelets.

🧪🔬🦴💠 Transformation of bone mineral morphology: From discrete marquise-shaped motifs to a continuous interwoven mesh

doi.org/10.1016/j.bo...

#bone #biomineralization #biology #osteocyte #collagen #apatite #mineral #science #electronmicroscopy #Ramanspectroscopy #imaging

50 years of scanning electron microscopy of bone—a comprehensive overview of the important discoveries made and insights gained into bone material properties in health, disease, and taphonomy - Bone R... Bone Research - 50 years of scanning electron microscopy of bone—a comprehensive overview of the important discoveries made and insights gained into bone material properties in health,...

🦴🩻🔬🧪 50 years of scanning electron #microscopy of #bone—a comprehensive overview of the important discoveries made and insights gained into bone material properties in #health, #disease, and #taphonomy

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

#imaging #microscopy #biomaterials #osteocyte #biomineralization

Our in-house confocal Raman microscope! 😍

My best mate at work - Donatello.

Osteocytes in bone!

2/3; Introduction 🕰️ - My scholarly interests [‼️] include #bone repair #biomaterials, the #osteocyte (a remarkable cell in bone), #osseointegration of implants, #biomineralization. I think #bacteria are fascinating! #electronmicroscopy and #Ramanspectroscopy ftw! #academicsky #science #fungifriends 🧪

Bone showing mineralized collagen and an osteocyte lacuna containing microcalcifications of apatite and whitlockite. Such calcification or mineral formation is part of normal physiological processes such as apoptosis but can also indicate pathology.

🧪🦴🔬 #Bone showing mineralized #collagen and an #osteocyte lacuna containing microcalcifications of #apatite and #whitlockite. Such #calcification or #mineral formation is part of normal physiological processes such as #apoptosis but can also indicate #pathology. #biomaterials #electronmicroscopy

🦴🔬 Between a rock and a hard place: Organisation of mineralised #collagen fibrils between the surface of a titanium implant and the nearest #osteocyte in human alveolar #bone.

#osseointegration
#electronmicroscopy
#implantology
#osteology
#biomineralization
#biomaterials