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X-ray Linear Dichroism in Apatite.

Cayla A Stifler¹, Nina Kølln Wittig², Michel Sassi³

¹Department of Physics , University of Wisconsin , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 , United States.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|September 6, 2018

Summary

X-ray linear dichroism reveals nano- to microscale apatite crystal structures in teeth and bone. This spectroscopic method enables detailed visualization of biogenic and geologic apatite, advancing materials science and paleontology.

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Area of Science:

Biomineralization research
Materials science
Spectroscopy

Background:

Apatite crystals form the primary mineral component of vertebrate teeth and bones.
Understanding apatite crystal orientation is crucial for comprehending the mechanical properties of skeletal tissues.
Previous methods lacked the resolution to visualize nanoscale apatite structures in biogenic materials.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate X-ray linear dichroism in various apatite crystals.
To enable visualization of nano- to microscale apatite crystal structures in biogenic materials.
To map apatite crystal orientations in biological tissues using polarization-dependent imaging contrast (PIC).

Main Methods:

Studied geologic hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite, alongside biogenic apatite from human bone, mouse enamel, and parrotfish tissues.
Employed a novel method for polarization-dependent imaging contrast (PIC) mapping, minimizing charging effects.
Analyzed crystal orientations and their alignment with tissue structures.

Main Results:

Successfully visualized nano- to microscale apatite crystal structures in teeth and bone.
PIC maps of lamellar bone showed expected rotating apatite crystal orientations.
PIC maps of mouse enamel revealed complex hydroxyapatite crystal arrangements, with c-axes not always aligned with rod elongation.

Conclusions:

X-ray linear dichroism is a powerful tool for visualizing apatite crystal structures in biological materials.
The study provides new insights into the structural organization of apatite in bone and enamel.
Findings advance the understanding of biomineralization and the structure-property relationships in skeletal tissues.