Multiscale Characterization of Embryonic Long Bone Mineralization in Mice
Journal article, 2020

Long bone mineralization occurs through endochondral ossification, where a cartilage template mineralizes into bone-like tissue with a hierarchical organization from the whole bone-scale down to sub-nano scale. Whereas this process has been extensively studied at the larger length scales, it remains unexplored at some of the smaller length scales. In this study, the changes in morphology, composition, and structure during embryonic mineralization of murine humeri are investigated using a range of high-resolution synchrotron-based imaging techniques at several length scales. With micro- and nanometer spatial resolution, the deposition of elements and the shaping of mineral platelets are followed. Rapid mineralization of the humeri occurs over approximately four days, where mineral to matrix ratio and calcium content in the most mineralized zone reach adult values shortly before birth. Interestingly, zinc is consistently found to be localized at the sites of ongoing new mineralization. The mineral platelets in the most recently mineralized regions are thicker, longer, narrower, and less aligned compared to those further into the mineralized region. In summary, this study demonstrates a specific spatial distribution of zinc, with highest concentration where new mineral is being deposited and that the newly formed mineral platelets undergo slight reshaping and reorganization during embryonic development.

small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering

X-ray tomography

bone development

Fourier transform infra-red microspectroscopy

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

Author

Isabella Silva Barreto

Lund University

Sophie Le Cann

Lund University

Saima Ahmed

Imperial College London

Vivien Sotiriou

Imperial College London

Mikael J. Turunen

University of Eastern Finland

Ulf Johansson

MAX IV Laboratory

Angel Rodriguez-Fernandez

MAX IV Laboratory

Tilman A. Grünewald

European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)

Marianne Liebi

Chalmers, Physics, Materials Physics

Niamh C. Nowlan

Imperial College London

Hanna Isaksson

Lund University

Advanced Science

2198-3844 (ISSN) 21983844 (eISSN)

Vol. 7 21 2002524

Subject Categories

Geology

Geochemistry

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

DOI

10.1002/advs.202002524

More information

Latest update

11/25/2020