Microscopic Modification of CT Scan Reveals Clues to Bone Formation

A new type of computed tomography (CT) scan is providing scientists with vital new information about how nature forms shells, bones, and other hard structures in animals ranging from guppies to mice. These data on biomineralization could form a knowledge base for understanding bone loss in humans, and even reaching for the Holy Grail of regenerative medicine, discovering how newts, starfish, and other animals regrow severed body parts.

These are the latest observations in a new overview of the technology scheduled for publication in the journal Chemical Reviews. In the study, Drs. Matthias Epple and Frank Neues, from the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany), described ongoing research in which scientists use X-ray microcomputer tomography to study biomineralization, the process in which animals form bones, shells, and other hard structures. Microcomputer tomography is the high-resolution version of traditional CT. Similar to a CT microscope; it constructs three-dimensional (3D) images of structures in bones and shells too small for viewing with regular CT.

The article provides a broad overview of current research involving X-ray microcomputer tomography, and the implications for medicine, design of new materials, and other fields. "It is of interest in modern materials science to synthetically mimic these inorganic structures to create new coatings, materials, or instruments for practical application,” the article states. "We are convinced that this method will be of high future value to study the spatially different mineralization processes in mineralizing animals and plants.”

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University of Duisburg-Essen