IUVSTA 15th International Vacuum Congress (IVC-15), AVS 48th International Symposium (AVS-48), 11th International Conference on Solid Surfaces (ICSS-11)
    Biomaterials Tuesday Sessions
       Session BI-TuP

Paper BI-TuP6
Investigation of Bone Tissues using Infrared Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

Tuesday, October 30, 2001, 5:30 pm, Room 134/135

Session: Surface Characterization and Non-Fouling Surfaces Poster Session
Presenter: G.M.W. Kroesen, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
Authors: G.M.W. Kroesen, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
J.-C. Cigal, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
E. Stoffels, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
B. van Rietbergen, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
R. Huiskes, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
Correspondent: Click to Email
Small fractures on the bone surface, called micro-cracks, are formed throughout the lifetime as a result of e.g. mechanical stress. In individuals of advanced age, these defects are no longer efficiently repaired by the organism. Increasing density of micro-crack is one of the important factors which lead to osteoporosis: the severe loss of bone mass and attendant fragility of the skeleton. The size of micro-cracks is in the order of 10 microns, and they are difficult to detect in vivo. Apart from these fractures, the chemical composition of the bone surface is expected to change in the course of ageing. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is a powerful but non-destructive technique of analysing complex surfaces, and it seems very suitable in a study of bone tissues. We developed a spectroscopic ellipsometer combined with a Fourier transform spectrometer in the middle infrared range (wavelength of 2.5 to 10 microns). This device allows to collect accurate data on the chemical composition of the bone surface. In addition, it can provide information about the surface roughness, which is useful in determining the density of micro-cracks. Ellipsometry is a purely physical method, and this novel application to the complex biological environment poses many technical challenges. We will present preliminary results on ellipsometric analysis of bone surfaces, including infrared spectra of several bone samples. In the subsequent study we will investigate how the ageing of the bone tissue is reflected by its infrared properties.