Synchrotron-Micro-XRF Imaging of human bone

01.10.2009 - 30.09.2013
Research funding project
Trace elements are chemical elements in minute quantities and are found naturally in the environment and human exposure derives from a variety of sources. While some trace elements are important to human health, there is a growing body of literature on the role of toxic trace elements, such as lead (Pb) in the development of numerous diseases. Pb is predominantly accumulated in the skeleton, where approximately 95 percent of the total body burden of Pb is present. Within the frame of the previous FWF project P15740 ¿Determination of Lead in Human Bone and Tissue¿ the use of Synchrotron radiation (SR) in combination with a confocal Microscopic X-ray fluorescence analysis (micro-XRF) setup proved to be an ideal instrumentation to determine the distribution of the trace elements lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), Strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) in normal human bone. A highly specific accumulation of Pb and Zn was discovered in the so called tidemark, the transition zone between calcified and non-calcified articular cartilage. However, very little is known about the role and exact mechanisms of Pb accumulation in the tidemark of normal articular cartilage and bone. Moreover, even less is known about a potential role of trace elements in common musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. In osteoarthritis duplication of the tidemark, has been thought of a metabolically active calcification front, are seen. A pilot study has shown a differential accumulation of trace elements in double tidemarks of osteoarthritic human samples when compared to normals. While the exposure of Pb is associated with low bone mass, to date little is known at what stage of the bone matrix mineralization process Pb is incorporated in bone, and if there are spatial differences in Pb accumulation within the bone tissue. Moreover, very little is known about the speciation of Pb in the tidemark of normal articular cartilage and bone. The aims of this project are to analyze the distribution and concentrations of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) in articular cartilage and bone from osteoarthritic and osteoporotic human femoral heads using SR micro-XRF from as well as laboratory based µ-XRF. All elemental maps will be correlated with backscattered electron images of the investigated region and data will then be compared to levels from previously analyzed bone samples from normal, healthy adults. Moreover, a speciation of Pb in the investigated calcified tissue (i.e. calcified articular cartilage, subchondral) to determine the chemical bindings of these elements will be performed using X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). We expect the altered bone turnover in osteoarthritis and osteoporosis to have a profound effect on the distribution of trace elements in calcified articular cartilage as well as subchondral bone. Our research may shed light on the potential role of local Pb in the development of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Moreover, we hope to gain further insight into the role of trace elements in bio-mineralization

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Grant funds

  • FWF - Österr. Wissenschaftsfonds (National) Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Research focus

  • Biological and Bioactive Materials: 100%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
2D und 3D Elementverteilungen2D- 3D elemental imaging
Spurenelementverteilungtrace element distribution
Knochen und Knorpelbone and cartilage
OsteoporoseOsteoporosis

External partner

  • Institut für Synchrotronstrahlung ANKA
  • HASYLAB, Deutsches Elektronensynchtrotron ( DESY), Hamburg
  • Fondazione Bruno Kessler
  • Medizinuniversität Wien
  • Ludwig Boltzmann-Institut für Osteology

Publications