Nanoscale Compositional and Mechanical Alterations of Bone Tissue at Peri-Lacunar Regions in Type-1 Diabetic Postmenopausal Women

Overview

This poster investigates peri-lacunar bone quality in postmenopausal women with Type 1 diabetes to better understand fracture risk beyond conventional bone mineral density measurements. The work focuses on how local nanoscale composition and mechanics change near osteocyte lacunae.

Methods

The study combined AFM-IR spectroscopy and nanoindentation to evaluate both compositional and mechanical changes in cortical bone tissue. These techniques enabled localized measurement of mineral organization, elastic modulus, and hardness at peri-lacunar regions.

Key Findings

• Peri-lacunar regions in diabetic bone showed reduced modulus and hardness.
• Nanoscale mineral organization was altered relative to comparison tissue.
• The findings help explain elevated fracture risk that is not fully captured by bone mineral density alone.

Poster

View the full Student Research Days poster as a PDF for the complete figures, methods, and results summary.