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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Comprehensive Characterization of Tissue Mineralization in an Ex Vivo Model
Published on: September 27, 2024
Mineral maturity and crystallinity index are distinct characteristics of bone mineral
Delphine Farlay1, Gérard Panczer, Christian Rey
1Faculté de Médecine R. Laennec, INSERM Unité 831, Université de Lyon, Rue Guillaume Paradin, 69372, Lyon Cedex 08, France. farlay@sante.univ-lyon1.fr
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mineral maturity and crystallinity index are two different characteristics of bone mineral. To this end, Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) was used. To test our hypothesis, synthetic apatites and human bone samples were used for the validation of the two parameters using FTIRM. Iliac crest samples from seven human controls and two with skeletal fluorosis were analyzed at the bone structural unit (BSU) level by FTIRM on sections 2-4 mum thick. Mineral maturity and crystallinity index were highly correlated in synthetic apatites but poorly correlated in normal human bone. In skeletal fluorosis, crystallinity index was increased and maturity decreased, supporting the fact of separate measurement of these two parameters. Moreover, results obtained in fluorosis suggested that mineral characteristics can be modified independently of bone remodeling. In conclusion, mineral maturity and crystallinity index are two different parameters measured separately by FTIRM and offering new perspectives to assess bone mineral traits in osteoporosis.
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