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3D X-ray ultra-microscopy of bone tissue

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Abstract

We review the current X-ray techniques with 3D imaging capability at the nano-scale: transmission X-ray microscopy, ptychography and in-line phase nano-tomography. We further review the different ultra-structural features that have so far been resolved: the lacuno-canalicular network, collagen orientation, nano-scale mineralization and their use as basis for mechanical simulations. X-ray computed tomography at the micro-metric scale is increasingly considered as the reference technique in imaging of bone micro-structure. The trend has been to push towards increasingly higher resolution. Due to the difficulty of realizing optics in the hard X-ray regime, the magnification has mainly been due to the use of visible light optics and indirect detection of the X-rays, which limits the attainable resolution with respect to the wavelength of the visible light used in detection. Recent developments in X-ray optics and instrumentation have allowed to implement several types of methods that achieve imaging that is limited in resolution by the X-ray wavelength, thus enabling computed tomography at the nano-scale. We review here the X-ray techniques with 3D imaging capability at the nano-scale: transmission X-ray microscopy, ptychography and in-line phase nano-tomography. Further, we review the different ultra-structural features that have so far been resolved and the applications that have been reported: imaging of the lacuno-canalicular network, direct analysis of collagen orientation, analysis of mineralization on the nano-scale and use of 3D images at the nano-scale to drive mechanical simulations. Finally, we discuss the issue of going beyond qualitative description to quantification of ultra-structural features.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Bernhard Hesse, Alexandra Pacureanu, Peter Varga and Loriane Weber for helpful suggestions and discussions, as well as the support of the ESRF scientists, in particular Peter Cloetens and Heiki Suhonen. This work was performed within the framework of the LABEX PRIMES (ANR-11-LABX-0063) of Université de Lyon, within the program "Investissements d'Avenir" (ANR-11-IDEX-0007) operated by the French National Research Agency (ANR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Lyon, CREATIS; CNRS UMR5220; Inserm U1044; INSA-Lyon; Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France

    M. Langer & F. Peyrin

  2. ESRF – The European Synchrotron, Grenoble, France

    M. Langer & F. Peyrin

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  1. M. Langer
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  2. F. Peyrin
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Correspondence to M. Langer.

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Langer, M., Peyrin, F. 3D X-ray ultra-microscopy of bone tissue. Osteoporos Int 27, 441–455 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3257-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3257-0

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