The ECTS webinar led by Dr. Mustafa Unal on May 11th 2023 focused on the significance of water in bone quality and bone fracture resistance.
To begin, Dr. Unal addressed the historical oversight of water in bone and highlighted the growing attention it has received in recent years. He discussed the fundamental components of bone, including mineral, collagen, water, non-collagenous proteins, and cross-links, emphasizing their individual roles in providing fracture resistance to bone.
The presentation delved into the various forms of water present in bone, such as structural water, unbound or free water, and water bound to collagen and mineral phases. Dr. Unal explained the importance of bound and structural water in bone mineral and the interaction between water and collagen at different levels. Dr. Unal discussed the current methods for measuring water content in bone, which encompass thermogravimetric analysis, MR-based techniques (NMR and MRI), near-infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. He outlined the advantages and limitations of each method, with a particular focus on the customized Raman spectroscopy developed by his research group.
The research findings presented by Dr. Unal centered around the identification of water peaks in the Raman spectrum associated with collagen-bound and mineral-bound water. He explored the sensitivity of these peaks to changes in water content and their correlation with bone mechanical properties, such as toughness, post-yield toughness, elastic modulus, and maximum strength. Dr unal further mentioned that the implications of water in bone fracture resistance were underscored, highlighting the potential of collagen-bound and mineral-bound water as novel indicators of bone quality. Dr. Unal summarized the factors that influence water distribution in bone, including gender, age, disease, collagen cross-linking, mineralization, porosity, and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).
In the final portion of the presentation, Dr. Unal reiterated the significance of bound water in bone by sharing a study demonstrating the increase in collagen-bound water and toughness through Raloxifene treatment. This highlighted the potential therapeutic implications of targeting bound water to enhance bone fracture resistance.
Overall, the presentation provided an overview of the importance of water in bone and its impact on bone quality and mechanical properties. Dr. Unal emphasized the advancements in water measurement techniques and their contribution to understanding bone hydration.
To watch the video, please visit the dedicated webpage of ECTS and log in with your username and password. Enjoy!