Objective:

Determine biochemical composition (such as collagen and proteoglycan content) of articular cartilage samples and compare to existing neutron and X-ray data.

Background/Relevance:

Our group is exploring novel methods of imaging cartilage to study osteoarthritis (OA) progression and have obtained promising images using both neutron and synchrotron X-ray tomography. Making full use of this data requires a comparison to a ground truth for the biochemical composition of the tissue using established spectroscopy techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Approach:

The candidate will prepare samples for FTIR measurements, including fixation and sectioning, and compare FTIR data to existing neutron and X-ray images.

Application:

Samples of human articular cartilage used in previous X-ray and neutron studies will be fixed and sectioned, before being measured with FTIR. Measured compositional data will be compared with gray values and other visible properties in neutron and X-ray images.
Experimental and analytic overview. Photo/illustration.

Student background:

Basic knowledge in image analysis as well as experience handling biological samples in the lab.

For more info, please contact: Biomechanics group, Hanna Isaksson, hanna.isaksson@bme.lth.se