This project investigated how the structure and composition of bone tissue determine its exceptional mechanical properties. By combining neutron and X-ray scattering and tomography, the research explored how the mineral and organic phases in bone—hydroxyapatite and collagen—interact across nano- and microscale hierarchies.
Small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SANS/SAXS) were used to follow the mineralisation process and reveal how the size, orientation, and organization of mineral particles evolve during tissue maturation. The results demonstrated that mechanical performance depends not only on the amount of mineral but also on the dimensions and alignment of the crystallites. Neutron tomography (NT) and X-ray tomography (XRT) provided complementary 3D insights into bone microstructure and the role of hydration, highlighting how neutron imaging can sensitively detect hydrogen-rich soft tissue regions.
The work established neutron scattering and imaging as powerful complementary tools to X-ray methods for studying bone nanostructure and biomechanics, opening new possibilities for understanding age-related changes, diseases, and treatments affecting skeletal health.