Parmenter, Alissa L;
Newham, Elis;
Sharma, Aikta;
Disney, Catherine M;
Deyhle, Hans;
Bosi, Federico;
Terrill, Nick J;
... Lee, Peter D; + view all
(2025)
Variations in mineral prestrain, nanostructure, and microarchitecture play a role in intervertebral disc loading.
Cell Biomaterials
, Article 100151. 10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100151.
(In press).
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Abstract
The function of all musculoskeletal joints depends on hierarchical structures spanning the molecular to whole-joint scales. Investigating biomechanics across length scales requires correlative multiscale experimental methods. This study applies multimodal in situ synchrotron imaging techniques to spinal joints—focusing on the vertebral endplates—to explore relationships between structure and mechanical strain across spatial scales. Strain mapping using digital volume correlation combined with microarchitectural analysis reveals that high tensile and shear strains play a role in the cartilage to bone transition. Correlative imaging and diffraction show that bone contains narrower mineral nanocrystallites under greater compressive prestrain compared with calcified cartilage. We hypothesize that this multiscale structural adaptation supports the mechanical function of the intervertebral disc. Future applications of the techniques presented here have potential to help unravel the biomechanical underpinnings of pathologies affecting mineralized tissue structure. The multiscale structure-function relationships uncovered here may inspire the design of biomaterials and orthopedic implants.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Variations in mineral prestrain, nanostructure, and microarchitecture play a role in intervertebral disc loading |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100151 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celbio.2025.100151 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. under a Creative Commons license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | bone, cartilage, biomechanics, molecular-scale prestrain, mineralized nanocrystallites, synchrotron imaging, spine, X-ray diffraction, digital volume correlation, intervertebral disc |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Med Phys and Biomedical Eng |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10211734 |
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