Chemists develop 3D bone-scanning technique

Chemists at Trinity College Dublin created a 3D bone-scanning technique that does not expose patients to radiation. The team attached a luminescent tag to tiny, gold structures called nanoagents. The particles seek out micro-cracks in bones and adhere to the calcium-rich surface. Using magnetic resonance imaging, the luminescent molecules light up and produce a 3D, high-resolution image of the bone. The study appeared in the journal Chem, according to the university. The project is a collaboration between Trinity College Dublin and Ireland’s Royal College of Surgeons. Micro-cracks in bones can occur from everyday activity. In athletes, these cracks accumulate faster than the body can naturally repair them, which can cause stress fractures. The same is true for elderly people with osteoporosis, because the body’s natural repair system is not as effective. The researchers argue that their process is unique because unlike traditional X-rays, their images can tell doctors about the quality of the bone. Their process also doesn’t require the use of radiation, which has been associated with an increased risk of cancer. “By using our new nanoagent to label microcracks and detecting them with magnetic resonance imaging, we hope to measure both bone quantity and quality and identify those at greatest risk of fracture and institute appropriate therapy,” Dr. Clive Lee, a professor of anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said in prepared remarks. &...
Source: Mass Device - Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Tags: Imaging Orthopedics Research & Development Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Trinity College Dublin Source Type: news