| Abstract Scope |
Vibrational spectroscopic techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, offer important capabilities for compositional characterization of bone tissues. Furthermore, technological advancements have allowed collection of grids of spectra in a spatially resolved fashion to generate compositional images and correlate with spatially resolved assays of mechanical properties. We have leveraged these sensitive techniques to evaluate changes in bone tissue properties associated with skeletal development, aging, disease, and drug treatment. We have interrogated the material properties of many different systems with these tools, including human clinical specimens and animal models of skeletal disease. Some representative examples include clinical specimens from individuals with type 2 diabetes and from individuals with osteoporosis undergoing long-term antiresorptive treatment; mouse models of altered gut microbiome; and pathologic mineralization in aortic valves. Finally, we discuss emerging technical developments in spectroscopic imaging which provide new opportunities to establish structure-property relationships in biological tissues. |