In Vivo Assessment of Skin Surface Pattern: Exploring Its Potential as an Indicator of Bone Biomechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of bone tissue are the result of a complex process involving collagen–crystal interactions. The mineral density of the bone tissue is correlated with bone strength, whereas the characteristics of collagen are often associated with the ductility and toughness of the bone. Fr...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Bioengineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/12/1338 |
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| author | Jean-Charles Aurégan Catherine Bosser Manon Bachy-Razzouk Morad Bensidhoum Thierry Hoc |
| author_facet | Jean-Charles Aurégan Catherine Bosser Manon Bachy-Razzouk Morad Bensidhoum Thierry Hoc |
| author_sort | Jean-Charles Aurégan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The mechanical properties of bone tissue are the result of a complex process involving collagen–crystal interactions. The mineral density of the bone tissue is correlated with bone strength, whereas the characteristics of collagen are often associated with the ductility and toughness of the bone. From a clinical perspective, bone mineral density alone does not satisfactorily explain skeletal fragility. However, reliable in vivo markers of collagen quality that can be easily used in clinical practice are not available. Hence, the objective of the present study is to examine the relationship between skin surface morphology and changes in the mechanical properties of the bone. An experimental study was conducted on healthy children (n = 11), children with osteogenesis imperfecta (n = 13), and women over 60 years of age (n = 22). For each patient, the skin characteristic length (SCL) of the forearm skin surface was measured. The SCL quantifies the geometric patterns formed by wrinkles on the skin’s surface, both in terms of size and elongation. The greater the SCL, the more deficient was the organic collagen matrix. In addition, the bone volume fraction and mechanical properties of the explanted femoral head were determined for the elderly female group. The mean SCL values of the healthy children group were significantly lower than those of the elderly women and osteogenesis imperfecta groups. For the aged women group, no significant differences were indicated in the elastic mechanical parameters, whereas bone toughness and ductility decreased significantly as the SCL increased. In conclusion, in bone collagen pathology or bone aging, the SCL is significantly impaired. This in vivo skin surface parameter can be a non-invasive tool to improve the estimation of bone matrix quality and to identify subjects at high risk of bone fracture. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:59:58Z |
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| id | doaj.art-b5269b53bc5e4ce7b026088d7df3fb47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-5354 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:59:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5269b53bc5e4ce7b026088d7df3fb472023-12-22T13:53:56ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542023-11-011012133810.3390/bioengineering10121338In Vivo Assessment of Skin Surface Pattern: Exploring Its Potential as an Indicator of Bone Biomechanical PropertiesJean-Charles Aurégan0Catherine Bosser1Manon Bachy-Razzouk2Morad Bensidhoum3Thierry Hoc4B3OA, UMR CNRS 7052, Inserm U1271 Université de Paris, 10 avenue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, FranceHealthDataSciences, 45, Chemin du Barthélémy, 69260 Charbonnières-les-Bains, FranceB3OA, UMR CNRS 7052, Inserm U1271 Université de Paris, 10 avenue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, FranceB3OA, UMR CNRS 7052, Inserm U1271 Université de Paris, 10 avenue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, FranceB3OA, UMR CNRS 7052, Inserm U1271 Université de Paris, 10 avenue de Verdun, 75010 Paris, FranceThe mechanical properties of bone tissue are the result of a complex process involving collagen–crystal interactions. The mineral density of the bone tissue is correlated with bone strength, whereas the characteristics of collagen are often associated with the ductility and toughness of the bone. From a clinical perspective, bone mineral density alone does not satisfactorily explain skeletal fragility. However, reliable in vivo markers of collagen quality that can be easily used in clinical practice are not available. Hence, the objective of the present study is to examine the relationship between skin surface morphology and changes in the mechanical properties of the bone. An experimental study was conducted on healthy children (n = 11), children with osteogenesis imperfecta (n = 13), and women over 60 years of age (n = 22). For each patient, the skin characteristic length (SCL) of the forearm skin surface was measured. The SCL quantifies the geometric patterns formed by wrinkles on the skin’s surface, both in terms of size and elongation. The greater the SCL, the more deficient was the organic collagen matrix. In addition, the bone volume fraction and mechanical properties of the explanted femoral head were determined for the elderly female group. The mean SCL values of the healthy children group were significantly lower than those of the elderly women and osteogenesis imperfecta groups. For the aged women group, no significant differences were indicated in the elastic mechanical parameters, whereas bone toughness and ductility decreased significantly as the SCL increased. In conclusion, in bone collagen pathology or bone aging, the SCL is significantly impaired. This in vivo skin surface parameter can be a non-invasive tool to improve the estimation of bone matrix quality and to identify subjects at high risk of bone fracture.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/12/1338bone mechanicsbone agingosteogenesis imperfectaskin surfacecollagen |
| spellingShingle | Jean-Charles Aurégan Catherine Bosser Manon Bachy-Razzouk Morad Bensidhoum Thierry Hoc In Vivo Assessment of Skin Surface Pattern: Exploring Its Potential as an Indicator of Bone Biomechanical Properties Bioengineering bone mechanics bone aging osteogenesis imperfecta skin surface collagen |
| title | In Vivo Assessment of Skin Surface Pattern: Exploring Its Potential as an Indicator of Bone Biomechanical Properties |
| title_full | In Vivo Assessment of Skin Surface Pattern: Exploring Its Potential as an Indicator of Bone Biomechanical Properties |
| title_fullStr | In Vivo Assessment of Skin Surface Pattern: Exploring Its Potential as an Indicator of Bone Biomechanical Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Vivo Assessment of Skin Surface Pattern: Exploring Its Potential as an Indicator of Bone Biomechanical Properties |
| title_short | In Vivo Assessment of Skin Surface Pattern: Exploring Its Potential as an Indicator of Bone Biomechanical Properties |
| title_sort | in vivo assessment of skin surface pattern exploring its potential as an indicator of bone biomechanical properties |
| topic | bone mechanics bone aging osteogenesis imperfecta skin surface collagen |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/12/1338 |
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