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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Potential of VSFG Microscopy in Studying Mesoscopically Heterogeneous Self-Assembled Structures
Published on: December 1, 2023
Vibrational spectroscopic imaging for the evaluation of matrix and mineral chemistry
S Gamsjaeger1, R Mendelsohn, A L Boskey
1Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at the Hanusch Hospital of WGKK and AUVA Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital, Heinrich Collin Str. 30, A-1140, Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
Metabolic bone diseases manifesting fragility fractures (such as osteoporosis) are routinely diagnosed based on bone mineral density (BMD) measurements, and the effect of various therapies also evaluated based on the same outcome. Although useful, it is well recognized that this metric does not fully account for either fracture incidence or the effect of various therapies on fracture incidence, thus, the emergence of bone quality as a contributing factor in the determination of bone strength. Infrared and Raman vibrational spectroscopic techniques are particularly well-suited for the determination of bone quality as they provide quantitative and qualitative information of the mineral and organic matrix bone components, simultaneously. Through the use of microspectroscopic techniques, this information is available in a spatially resolved manner, thus, the outcomes may be easily correlated with outcomes from techniques such as histology, histomorphometry, and nanoindentation, linking metabolic status with material properties.
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