Maturity of human bone estimated by FTIR spectroscopy analysis: implications for ostheoporosis

Abstract

This work studies the possible variations of the properties of mineral and organic bone components with regard to the anatomical position and the patient's age. Autopsies of healthy human iliac crest have been analyzed within a wide range of ages (26-88), measuring different anatomical positions in trabecular bone by means of FT-IR spectroscopy. The study was focused on the analysis of ν1, ν3 phosphate, ν2 carbonate amida I and amida II bands. From the resulting spectra the cristallinity/maturity index, the collagen cross-links ratio and the carbonate/phosphate ratio were calculated. All of them provide information of bone mineral and collagen maturity. The results show a trend in the spatial distribution of mineral and collagen maturity in most of the samples. The most mature mineral and collagen of the bone were found to be located in the trabecular center, while the youngest were situated in the peripheral regions. However, this behavior has exceptions that seem to be related with the patient's age.