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Melvin J. Glimcher's laboratory is studying the detailed composition and nanostructure of mineralized tissues, mechanisms of bone repair, and nanoscale mechanisms in bone mineralization. The researchers aim to determine the 3D structure of the nucleation site in the organic matrix of bone, which initiates mineralization and the structure of the initial crystalline phase formed. They also plan to characterize the 3D nanoscale architecture of bone, including the spatial relationship between its organic and inorganic components and its role in the mechanical and physiological functions of bone. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of bone mineralization will enable interventions in disorders involving inappropriate mineralization and/or organization of bone mineral in various diseases, injuries, and bone repair.
The Glimcher group is also developing noninvasive MRI using combined 31P and proton NMR for use in determining the volumetric degree of bone matrix mineralization. Unlike current clinical modalities for evaluating bone mineralization, the MRI methodology under development will allow true 3D quantitation of degree of bone matrix mineralization. It will be suitable for clinical use in various bone diseases, fractures, and genetic disorders of the skeleton.
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