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Highly ordered interstitial water observed in bone by nuclear magnetic resonance
Erin E Wilson1, Ayorinde Awonusi, Michael D Morris
1Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Summary
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) reveals a structured water layer on bone mineral surfaces. This ordered water may influence bone
Area of Science:
- Bone nanostructure
- Biomaterials science
- Biophysics
Background:
- Bone's mechanical properties are not fully understood at the molecular level.
- Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) offers new insights into bone's mineral component.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nanostructure of bone tissue using NMR.
- To elucidate the role of water at the mineral-organic interface in bone.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 2D Lee-Goldburg Cross-Polarization under Magic-Angle Spinning (2D LG-CPMAS) NMR.
- Measured NMR dipolar couplings between protons and phosphorus/carbon.
- Analyzed powdered cortical bone and synthetic hydroxyapatite.
Main Results:
- Identified a highly ordered structural water layer hydrating bioapatite crystallites in bone.
- Observed water protons approximately 2.3-2.55 Å from surface phosphorus atoms.
- Found limited evidence of ordered hydroxide in bone, unlike synthetic apatite.
Conclusions:
- An ordered structural water layer exists at the mineral-organic interface in cortical bone.
- This water layer may play a crucial role in bone's biomechanical properties.
- NMR provides direct spectroscopic evidence for this interstitial water.