title: Micro- and nano-CT for the study of bone ultrastructure.
abstract: Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT)-a version of X-ray CT operating at high spatial resolution-has had a considerable success for the investigation of trabecular bone micro-architecture. Currently, there is a lot of interest in exploiting CT techniques at even higher spatial resolutions to assess bone tissue at the cellular scale. After recalling the basic principles of micro-CT, we review the different existing system, based on either standard X-ray tubes or synchrotron sources. Then, we present recent applications of micro- and nano-CT for the analysis of osteocyte lacunae and the lacunar-canalicular network. We also address the question of the quantification of bone ultrastructure to go beyond the sole visualization.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1044, CREATIS, 69621, Villeurbanne, France, peyrin@esrf.fr.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peyrin
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacureanu
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008852:Microradiography / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*