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Østergaard M, Naver EB, Kaestner A, Willendrup PK, Brüel A, Sørensen HO, Thomsen JS, Schmidt S, Poulsen HF, Theil Kuhn L, Birkedal H. Polychromatic neutron phase-contrast imaging of weakly absorbing samples enabled by phase retrieval. J Appl Crystallogr 2023; 56:673-682. [PMID: 37284268 PMCID: PMC10241042 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576723003011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of a phase-retrieval technique for propagation-based phase-contrast neutron imaging with a polychromatic beam is demonstrated. This enables imaging of samples with low absorption contrast and/or improving the signal-to-noise ratio to facilitate e.g. time-resolved measurements. A metal sample, designed to be close to a phase pure object, and a bone sample with canals partially filled with D2O were used for demonstrating the technique. These samples were imaged with a polychromatic neutron beam followed by phase retrieval. For both samples the signal-to-noise ratios were significantly improved and, in the case of the bone sample, the phase retrieval allowed for separation of bone and D2O, which is important for example for in situ flow experiments. The use of deuteration contrast avoids the use of chemical contrast enhancement and makes neutron imaging an interesting complementary method to X-ray imaging of bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Østergaard
- Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Estrid Buhl Naver
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej 310, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anders Kaestner
- Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Peter K. Willendrup
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej 307, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- European Spallation Source ERIC, PO Box 176, Lund, Sweden
| | - Annemarie Brüel
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 3, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henning Osholm Sørensen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej 307, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Xnovo Technology ApS, Galoche Alle 15, 1, Køge, Denmark
| | | | - Søren Schmidt
- European Spallation Source ERIC, PO Box 176, Lund, Sweden
| | - Henning Friis Poulsen
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej 307, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Luise Theil Kuhn
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej 310, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Henrik Birkedal
- Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, Denmark
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Christensen TEK, Chua JQI, Wittig NK, Jørgensen MRV, Kantor I, Thomsen JS, Miserez A, Birkedal H. Flexible design in the stomatopod dactyl club. IUCRJ 2023; 10:288-296. [PMID: 36912686 PMCID: PMC10161772 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252523002075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The stomatopod is a fascinating animal that uses its weaponized appendage dactyl clubs for breaking mollusc shells. Dactyl clubs are a well studied example of biomineralized hierarchical structures. Most research has focused on the regions close to the action, namely the impact region and surface composed of chitin and apatite crystallites. Further away from the site of impact, the club has lower mineralization and more amorphous phases; these areas have not been as actively studied as their highly mineralized counterparts. This work focuses on the side of the club, in what is known as the periodic and striated regions. A combination of laboratory micro-computed tomography, synchrotron X-ray diffraction mapping and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping has shown that the mineral in this region undergoes the transition from an amorphous to a crystalline phase in some, but not all, clubs. This means that this side region can be mineralized by either an amorphous phase, calcite crystallites or a mixture of both. It was found that when larger calcite crystallites form, they are organized (textured) with respect to the chitin present in this biocomposite. This suggests that chitin may serve as a template for crystallization when the side of the club is fully mineralized. Further, calcite crystallites were found to form as early as 1 week after moulting of the club. This suggests that the side of the club is designed with a significant safety margin that allows for a variety of phases, i.e. the club can function independently of whether the side region has a crystalline or amorphous mineral phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorbjørn Erik Køppen Christensen
- Center for Integrated Materials Research (iMAT), Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, 14 Gustav Wieds Vej, Aarhus C. 8000, Denmark
| | - Jia Qing Isaiah Chua
- Biological and Biomimetic Materials Laboratory, Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Nina Kølln Wittig
- Center for Integrated Materials Research (iMAT), Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, 14 Gustav Wieds Vej, Aarhus C. 8000, Denmark
| | - Mads Ry Vogel Jørgensen
- Center for Integrated Materials Research (iMAT), Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, 14 Gustav Wieds Vej, Aarhus C. 8000, Denmark
| | | | - Jesper Skovhus Thomsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 3, Aarhus C. 8000, Denmark
| | - Ali Miserez
- Biological and Biomimetic Materials Laboratory, Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Henrik Birkedal
- Center for Integrated Materials Research (iMAT), Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, 14 Gustav Wieds Vej, Aarhus C. 8000, Denmark
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Sepulveda AF, Kumpgdee-Vollrath M, Franco MK, Yokaichiya F, de Araujo DR. Supramolecular structure organization and rheological properties modulate the performance of hyaluronic acid-loaded thermosensitive hydrogels as drug-delivery systems. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 630:328-340. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.10.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Abstract
Bone is an outstanding, well-designed composite. It is constituted by a multi-level structure wherein its properties and behavior are dependent on its composition and structural organization at different length scales. The combination of unique mechanical properties with adaptive and self-healing abilities makes bone an innovative model for the future design of synthetic biomimetic composites with improved performance in bone repair and regeneration. However, the relation between structure and properties in bone is very complex. In this review article, we intend to describe the hierarchical organization of bone on progressively greater scales and present the basic concepts that are fundamental to understanding the arrangement-based mechanical properties at each length scale and their influence on bone’s overall structural behavior. The need for a better understanding of bone’s intricate composite structure is also highlighted.
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