Characterization of diabetic bone at the nanoscale

Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disease affecting 422 million people worldwide, had often been associated with a loss in bone quality and strength, causing a higher fracture risk. However, thorough characterization of diabetic bone at the nanoscale has never been completed. This may indeed be relevant, as the structure and chemistry of the nanoscale components of bone directly determine bone quality and strength.

In this project, Raman spectroscopy will be used at the host institution to gain information about the composition of diabetic bone at the nanoscale. This will be compared to that of healthy bone to identify the nanoscale changes induced by diabetes. It is expected that there may be changes in organic/inorganic ratios, which will be compared with structure analysis at the home institution. This work will shed light on the reasons behind the compromised quality/strength and the higher fracture risk of diabetic bone, thus enabling potential treatments, improvement of implant success in diabetic patients, and in turn, an overall improvement in the quality of life of diabetes sufferers worldwide.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kathryn Grandfield

Student:

Partner:

Göteborgs universitet

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Biotechnology

University:

McMaster University

Program: