Determination of the mineral phases and structure of the bone-implant interface using Raman spectroscopy

Probing Individual Particles Generated at the Freshwater-Seawater Interface through Combined Raman, Photothermal Infrared, and X-ray Spectroscopic Characterization

Sea spray aerosol (SSA) is one of the largest global sources of atmospheric aerosol, but little is known about SSA generated in coastal regions with salinity gradients near estuaries and river outflows. SSA particles are chemically complex with substantial particle-to-particle variability due to changes in water temperature, salinity, and biological activity. In previous studies, the ability to resolve the aerosol composition to the level of individual particles has proven necessary for the accurate parameterization of the direct and indirect aerosol effects; therefore, measurements of individual SSA particles are needed for the characterization of this large source of atmospheric aerosol. An integrated analytical measurement approach is required to probe the chemical composition of individual SSA particles. By combining complementary vibrational microspectroscopic (Raman and optical photothermal infrared, O-PTIR) measurements with elemental information from computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (CCSEM-EDX), we gained unique insights into the individual particle chemical composition and morphology. Herein, we analyzed particles from four experiments on laboratory-based SSA production using coastal seawater collected in January 2018 from the Gulf of Maine. Individual salt particles were enriched in organics compared to that in natural seawater, both with and without added microalgal filtrate, with greater enrichment observed for smaller particle sizes, as evidenced by higher carbon/sodium ratios. Functional group analysis was carried out using the Raman and infrared spectra collected from individual SSA particles. Additionally, the Raman spectra were compared with a library of Raman spectra consisting of marine-derived organic compounds. Saccharides, followed by fatty acids, were the dominant components of the organic coatings surrounding the salt cores of these particles. This combined Raman, infrared, and X-ray spectroscopic approach will enable further understanding of the factors determining the individual particle composition, which is important for understanding the impacts of SSA produced within estuaries and river outflows, as well as areas of snow and ice melt.

Magnesium whitlockite - omnipresent in pathological mineralisation of soft tissues but not a significant inorganic constituent of bone

Whitlockite is a calcium phosphate that was first identified in minerals collected from the Palermo Quarry, New Hampshire. The terms magnesium whitlockite [Mg-whitlockite; Ca₁₈Mg₂(HPO₄)₂(PO₄)₁₂] and beta-tricalcium phosphate [β-TCP; β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂] are often used interchangeably since Mg-whitlockite is not easily distinguished from β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ by powder X-ray diffraction although their crystalline structures differ significantly. Being both osteoconductive and bioresorbable, Mg-whitlockite is pursued as a synthetic bone graft substitute. In recent years, advances in development of synthetic Mg-whitlockite have been accompanied by claims that Mg-whitlockite is the second most abundant inorganic constituent of bone, occupying as much as 20-35 wt% of the inorganic fraction. To find evidence in support of this notion, this review presents an exhaustive summary of Mg-whitlockite identification in biological tissues. Mg-whitlockite is mainly found in association with pathological mineralisation of various soft tissues and dental calculus, and occasionally with enamel and dentine. With the exception of high-temperature treated tumoural calcified deposits around interphalangeal and metacarpal joints and rhomboidal Mg-whitlockite crystals in post-apoptotic osteocyte lacunae in human alveolar bone, this unusual mineral has never been detected in the extracellular matrix of mammalian bone. Characterisation techniques capable of unequivocally distinguishing between different calcium phosphate phases, such as high-resolution imaging, crystallography, and/or spectroscopy have exclusively identified bone mineral as poorly crystalline, ion-substituted, carbonated apatite. The idea that Mg-whitlockite is a significant constituent of bone mineral remains unsubstantiated. Contrary to claims that such biomaterials represent a bioinspired/biomimetic approach to bone repair, Mg-whitlockite remains, exclusively, a pathological biomineral. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Magnesium whitlockite (Mg-whitlockite) is a unique calcium phosphate that typically features in pathological calcification of soft tissues; however, an alarming trend emerging in the synthetic bioceramics community claims that Mg-whitlockite occupies 20-35 wt% of bone mineral and therefore synthetic Mg-whitlockite represents a biomimetic approach towards bone regeneration. By providing an overview of Mg-whitlockite detection in biological tissues and scrutinising a diverse cross-section of literature relevant to bone composition analysis, this review concludes that Mg-whitlockite is exclusively a pathological biomineral, and having never been reported in bone extracellular matrix, Mg-whitlockite does not constitute a biomimetic strategy for bone repair.

Osseointegration and current interpretations of the bone-implant interface

Complex physical and chemical interactions take place in the interface between the implant surface and bone. Various descriptions of the ultrastructural arrangement to various implant design features, ranging from solid and macroporous geometries to surface modifications on the micron-, submicron-, and nano- levels, have been put forward. Here, the current knowledge regarding structural organisation of the bone-implant interface is reviewed with a focus on solid devices, mainly metal (or alloy) intended for permanent anchorage in bone. Certain biomaterials that undergo surface and bulk degradation are also considered. The bone-implant interface is a heterogeneous zone consisting of mineralised, partially mineralised, and unmineralised areas. Within the meso-micro-nano-continuum, mineralised collagen fibrils form the structural basis of the bone-implant interface, in addition to accumulation of non-collagenous macromolecules such as osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin. In the published literature, as many as eight distinct arrangements of the bone-implant interface ultrastructure have been described. The interpretation is influenced by the in vivo model and species-specific characteristics, healing time point(s), physico-chemical properties of the implant surface, implant geometry, sample preparation route(s) and associated artefacts, analytical technique(s) and their limitations, and non-compromised vs compromised local tissue conditions. The understanding of the ultrastructure of the interface under experimental conditions is rapidly evolving due to the introduction of novel techniques for sample preparation and analysis. Nevertheless, the current understanding of the interface zone in humans in relation to clinical implant performance is still hampered by the shortcomings of clinical methods for resolving the finer details of the bone-implant interface. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Being a hierarchical material by design, the overall strength of bone is governed by composition and structure. Understanding the structure of the bone-implant interface is essential in the development of novel bone repair materials and strategies, and their long-term success. Here, the current knowledge regarding the eventual structural organisation of the bone-implant interface is reviewed, with a focus on solid devices intended for permanent anchorage in bone, and certain biomaterials that undergo surface and bulk degradation. The bone-implant interface is a heterogeneous zone consisting of mineralised, partially mineralised, and unmineralised areas. Within the meso-micro-nano-continuum, mineralised collagen fibrils form the structural basis of the bone-implant interface, in addition to accumulation of non-collagenous macromolecules such as osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin.

3D printed Ti6Al4V implant surface promotes bone maturation and retains a higher density of less aged osteocytes at the bone-implant interface

For load-bearing orthopaedic applications, metal implants having an interconnected pore structure exhibit the potential to facilitate bone ingrowth and the possibility for reducing the stiffness mismatch between the implant and bone, thus eliminating stress-shielding effects. 3D printed solid and macro-porous Ti6Al4V implants were evaluated after six-months healing in adult sheep femora. The ultrastructural composition of the bone-implant interface was investigated using Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy, in a correlative manner. The mineral crystallinity and the mineral-to-matrix ratios of the interfacial tissue and the native bone were found to be similar. However, lower Ca/P ratios, lower carbonate content, but higher proline, phenylalanine and tyrosine levels indicated that the interfacial tissue remained less mature. Bone healing was more advanced at the porous implant surface (vs. the solid implant surface) based on the interfacial tissue ν1 CO3(2-)/ν2 PO4(3-) ratio, phenylalanine and tyrosine levels approaching those of the native bone. The mechanosensing infrastructure in bone, the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network, retained ∼40% more canaliculi per osteocyte lacuna, i.e., a 'less aged' morphology at the interface. The osteocyte density per mineralised surface area was ∼36-71% higher at the interface after extended healing periods.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

In osseointegration research, the success of an implant surface or design is commonly determined by quantifying the amount of new bone, rather than its maturation, composition and structure. This work describes a novel correlative methodology to investigate the ultrastructure and composition of bone formed around and within 3D printed Ti6Al4V implants having an interconnected open-pore structure. Raman spectroscopy demonstrates that the molecular composition of the interfacial tissue at different implant surfaces may vary, suggesting differences in the extent to which bone maturation occurs even after long-term healing. Bone maturation corresponded well with the structural parameters associated with remodelling kinetics, for example, the osteocyte density and the average number of canaliculi per osteocyte lacuna.

Bioeutectic® Ceramics for Biomedical Application Obtained by Laser Floating Zone Method. In vivo Evaluation

In this study, the Bioeutectic^® blocks were inserted into the critical size defects of eight rabbits, using both tibiae, and the physical and chemical nature of the remodeled interface between the Bioeutectic^® implants and the surrounding bone were performed at four and 15 months. The results showed a new fully mineralized bone growing in direct contact with the implants. The ionic exchange, taking place at the implant interface with the body fluids was essential in the process of the implant integration through a dissolution-precipitation-transformation mechanism. The study found the interface biologically and chemically active over the 15 months implantation period. The osteoblastic cells migrated towards the interface and colonized the surface at the contact areas with the bone. The new developed apatite structure of porous morphology mimics natural bone.

Mineralization at the interface of implants

Osseointegration of implants is crucial for the long-term success of oral implants. Mineralization of the bone's extracellular matrix as the ultimate step of a mature bone formation is closely related to implant osseointegration. Osteogenesis at oral implants is a complex process, driven by cellular and acellular phenomena. The biological process of the maintenance and emergence of minerals in the vicinity of oral implants is influenced to a great extent by biophysical parameters. Implant-related structural and functional factors, as well as patient-specific factors, govern the features of osteogenesis. To understand the influence of these factors in peri-implant bone mineralization, it is important to consider the basic biological processes. Biological and crystallographic investigations have to be applied to evaluate mineralization at implant surfaces at the different hierarchical levels of analysis. This review gives insight into the complex theme of mineral formation around implants. Special focus is given to new developments in implant design and loading protocols aimed at accelerating osseointegration of dental implants.

Infrared Laser Light Reduces Loading Time of Dental Implants: A Raman Spectroscopic Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess, through near-infrared Raman spectroscopy (NIRS), the incorporation of hydroxyapatite of calcium (CHA; approximately 960 cm(1))--on the healing bone around dental implants submitted or not to low-level laser therapy (LLLT) (lambda830 nm).

BACKGROUND DATA

The process of maturation of the bone is important for the success of dental implants, as it improves the fixation of the implant to the bone, allowing the wearing of a prosthesis. LLLT has been suggested as a mean of improving bone healing because of its biomodulatory capabilities.

METHODS

Fourteen rabbits received a titanium implant on the tibia; eight of them were irradiated with lambda830-nm laser (seven sessions at 48-h intervals, 21.5 J/cm(2) per session, 10 mW, phi approximately 0.0028 cm(2), 85 J/cm(2) treatment dose), and six acted as control. The animals were sacrificed at 15, 30, and 45 days after surgery. Specimens were routinely prepared for Raman spectroscopy. Twelve readings were taken on the bone around the implant.

RESULTS

The results showed significant differences in the concentration of CHA on irradiated and control specimens at both 30 and 45 days after surgery (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that LLLT does improve bone healing, and this can be safely assessed by Raman spectroscopy.

Two-dimensional vibrational correlation spectroscopy of in vitro hydroxyapatite maturation

Two-dimensional (2-D) Raman and 2-D IR correlation spectroscopy are applied to analyze changes in the nu(4) region of the IR spectrum and in the nu(1) region of the Raman spectrum during the maturation of hydroxyapatite (HA) following the solution-mediated conversion of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to HA. The nu(1) region of the Raman spectrum exhibits a frequency shift and sharpening during the maturation. Comparison of the experimental and simulated 2-D plots for this process suggests that the shift of a single peak, rather than a change in the relative intensity of two overlapped bands, is responsible for the observed spectral changes. The nu(4) mode of the PO(3-)(4) ion (T(2) symmetry in the free species) splits into a triplet with components near 563, 575, and 603 cm(-1) in HA. In addition, broad features appear at 540 and 617 cm(-1). During the latest stages of the maturation, an OH(-) librational mode develops at approximately 632 cm(-1). Changes in the relative intensities of three components of the nu(4) mode are not all correlated with each other. The synchronous 2-D plots reveal that the 563 and 603 cm(-1) pair are positively correlated while the feature at 575 cm(-1) is absent. A 587 cm(-1) mode arising from ACP is negatively correlated with the 563 and 603 cm(-1) pair and is both synchronously (positively) and asynchronously correlated with the 540 cm(-1) feature during the early stages of the maturation but is absent from 2-D plots of the later stages of the maturation. Cross correlations between the nu(4) mode and the nu(1),nu(3) contour generally confirm and extend previous assignments for the latter spectral region. Finally, the suitability of the 2-D approach for analysis of IR spectral images is examined through studies of HA crystallinity in a human iliac crest biopsy sample. Trabecular bone contains a fraction of HA that is more crystalline and mature than could be achieved in vitro during the room temperature ACP --> HA interconversion.

Effects of leukemia inhibitory factor and oncostatin M on bone mineral formed in in vitro rat bone-marrow stromal cell culture: physicochemical aspects

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and oncostatin M (OSM), two pleiotropic cytokines involved in bone remodeling, have both anabolic and catabolic activities. This study analyzed the effects of LIF and OSM on the physicochemical characteristics of mineral phases formed in a rat bone-marrow stromal cell culture model. Stromal cells were cultured for three weeks in the presence of 10(-8) M dexamethasone, 50 microgram/mL ascorbic acid and 10 mM Na beta-glycerophosphate with or without 10 ng/ml LIF or OSM. Subsequently, the physicochemical characteristics of the mineralization nodules formed were analyzed by energy dispersive X ray microanalysis (EDX) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) and FT-Raman spectroscopy. EDX and FT-IR spectroscopy revealed the influence of LIF and OSM on the physicochemical characteristics of mineral phases. FT-Raman spectroscopy showed modifications of the main vibrational modes of the organic matrix. These alterations induced by growth factors could help define new strategies for the prevention and treatment of skeletal disorders.

Composition, constitution, and interaction of bone with hydroxyapatite coatings determined by FT Raman microscopy

An optimized FT Raman microscope (inverted microscope with high throughput of radiation) was developed that allows minimal sample preparation and Raman spectroscopy without fluorescence. A quantitative determination of the mineralization of bone tissue and hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings of hip and knee prostheses was performed. The lateral resolution reached down to 10 microm. The distribution of the HA content in the coatings investigated was found to be similar all the time. This result was independent of the composition of the coatings and the history of the whole prosthesis. In the immediate vicinity of the prosthesis a large HA content could be observed that decreased to a minimum towards the periphery of the coating and increased at the site of the ongrown bone. For the interface between bone and HA coating a transitional zone was observed at a lateral distance of 30-40 microm to the implant.

Properties of calcium phosphate coatings before and after exposure to simulated biological fluid

The surface qualities of calcium phosphate (CaP) implants are important factors determining the nature and degree of cellular behaviour, especially cellular attachment, proliferation and differentiation. Thus, in this study, the chemical composition and crystallographic properties of radiofrequency sputter-deposited CaP coatings prior to and after in vitro immersion in a physiological solution were characterized. Significant differences in crystallite size were observed with different heat treatments, with coatings heat treated at 850 degrees C (CA8) having larger crystallites compared to coatings heat treated at 700 degrees C (CA7). However, no statistical difference in the Ca/P ratio, carbon concentration and surface energy were observed with different heat treatments. After immersion in a physiological solution, the crystallite size was significantly increased. The crystallite size for the CA8 and CA7 coatings remained statistically different after 1-week immersion in solution. An increase in carbon concentration was also observed for both samples after 1-week immersion in solution. However, no significant differences in the Ca/P ratio and surface energy were indicated between the two coatings after 1-week immersion in solution. In addition, no statistical difference in surface energy was observed for both samples initially and after 1 week.

Surface-induced mineralization: a new method for producing calcium phosphate coatings

Calcium phosphate coatings were nucleated and grown from aqueous solution onto titanium metal substrates via surface-induced mineralization (SIM) processing techniques. This process is based on the observation that in nature organisms use biopolymers to produce ceramic composites, such as teeth, bones, and shells. The SIM process involves modification of a surface to introduce surface functionalization followed by immersion in aqueous supersaturated calcium phosphate solutions. This low-temperature process (< 100 degrees C) has advantages over conventional methods of calcium phosphate deposition in that uniform coatings are produced onto complex-shaped and/or microporous samples. Additionally, because it is a low-temperature process, control of the phase and crystallinity of the deposited material can be maintained.