Mineralisation of bone and biomimetic collagen from the atomic to the micro meter scale studied by novel in situ X-ray and electron microscopy techniq

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Project aims-Detailed study of the growth of collagen/apatite composites-Investigate the collagen-mineral interface over a range of length scales from the nanoscale to microscale in both biomimetic systems and bone-Focus on the dynamics of the formation of hydroxyapatite in collagen-Explore the imaging and spectroscopy of the crystallisation dynamicsProject SummaryDespite a vast array of studies, surrounding the subject of collagen mineralisation the mechanism behind the mineral (hydroxyapatite) formation within collagen fibers is still a central problem in the field of biomineralisation research.This project will involve a detailed study of the growth of collagen/apatite composites and investigate the collagen-mineral interface over a range of length scales from the nano- to microscale in both biomimetic systems and bone. To allow us to explore the imaging and spectroscopy of the crystallisation dynamics, and to quantify the transport and phase transition processes whilst controlling the formation of hydroxyapatite/collagen composites we will employ a unique combination of experimental techniques including (in-situ) electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy and synchrotron techniques. These will include in-situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (in-situ LCTEM), Transmission ElectronMicroscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Electron Energy Loss Spectrometry (EELS) and Raman spectroscopy. Experiments using synchrotron techniques will be carried out at Diamond Light Source, Oxford using the I14 (Hard X-Ray Nanoprobe), I08 (Scanning X-ray Microscopy), I22 (Small Angle Scattering & Diffraction) beamlines.