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Calcium environment in bone mineral determined by EXAFS spectroscopy
J E Harries1, D W Hukins, S S Hasnain
1Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Manchester, UK.
Calcified Tissue International
|October 1, 1988
Summary
Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis of mouse femurs reveals bone mineral structure. Results indicate bone mineral is similar to hydroxyapatite but with increased disorder, possibly due to carbonate ions.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Biomineralization
Background:
- Bone mineral is primarily hydroxyapatite.
- Understanding bone structure is crucial for skeletal health.
- Previous studies utilized EXAFS for hydroxyapatite analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the local atomic structure of bone mineral in mouse femurs.
- To compare the structure of bone mineral to crystalline hydroxyapatite.
- To investigate potential structural differences and their causes.
Main Methods:
- Powdered mouse femurs were analyzed using Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy.
- Calcium (Ca) K-edge was used as the absorption edge.
- EXAFS spectra were fitted using a model based on crystalline hydroxyapatite.
Main Results:
- Eight shells of atoms surrounding calcium up to 0.57 nm were needed to model bone spectra.
- The determined shell radii and Debye-Waller factors were similar to those of poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite.
- Bone mineral exhibited slightly greater disorder compared to crystalline hydroxyapatite.
Conclusions:
- Mouse bone mineral structure closely resembles hydroxyapatite.
- Increased disorder in bone mineral may be attributed to the incorporation of carbonate ions.
- EXAFS is a valuable technique for probing the atomic structure of biomineralized tissues.