Quantifying age and spatial variations of bone marrow elasticity with noncontact optical coherence elastography
Amandeep Singh1, Manmohan Singh1, Salavat R Aglyamov1
1University of Houston, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Houston, Texas, United States.
Journal of Biomedical Optics
|September 12, 2025
Summary
Bone marrow stiffness increases with age, as shown by optical coherence elastography (OCE). This technique may help diagnose bone marrow diseases non-invasively.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Tissue Mechanics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Bone marrow's connective tissue framework is vital for immune regulation and homeostasis.
- Biomechanical characterization of bone marrow can aid in diagnosing hematologic diseases like primary myelofibrosis.
- Optical coherence elastography (OCE) offers high-resolution assessment of tissue mechanical properties, making it suitable for bone marrow elasticity studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the elastic modulus of mouse femur bone marrow ex vivo.
- To investigate age-related changes in bone marrow stiffness.
- To assess spatial variations in bone marrow elasticity along the femur diaphysis.
Main Methods:
- Ex vivo optical coherence elastography (OCE) was used to measure bone marrow stiffness.
- Air-coupled ultrasound (ACUS) induced elastic waves, detected by phase-sensitive OCT.
- Measurements were taken from young, mature, and old CD1 mice femurs at three diaphyseal locations.
Main Results:
- Femoral bone marrow stiffness significantly increased with age (p < 0.001).
- No significant differences in Young's moduli were found across locations within young, mature, or old mice.
- Statistical analysis confirmed age-related stiffness changes.
Conclusions:
- OCE is a promising technique for mapping bone marrow stiffness.
- This method has potential for minimally invasive clinical applications in diagnosing bone marrow conditions.
