The Bone and Joint Research Laboratory undertakes and coordinates research projects that represent collaborative efforts by Bone and Joint Research Laboratory faculty, clinical faculty including orthopaedic surgeons, and industrial sponsors. The Laboratory has a wide range of cross disciplinary expertise that includes project planning, study design, protocol development, laboratory based tissue and biological techniques, data collection and analysis, and manuscript preparation.
The core focus of the Bone and Joint Research Laboratory is the analysis of tissue-level morphology during development, growth and ageing together with changes associated with adult onset bone disease such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Biomaterials and tissue engineering are studied in the context of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. The quality of the bone in the skeleton, in the ageing population, depends on the amount of bone, geometry, architecture, and material properties of the bone as well as the molecules that signal bone cell activity. A defect at one or more of these levels in the bone may result in a deterioration of the bone mechanical properties. One result may be a loss of bone strength and increased risk of fracture. Alternatively, the result may be the onset of osteoarthritic bone changes leading to cartilage breakdown in the hip or knee joint. The laboratory has made significant advances in understanding the molecular signals that cause bone cells to change the structure of the bone. Applying complementary techniques (such as microcomputer tomography (microCT) and microarrays) to analyse human bone tissue samples from patients with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis the laboratory has been the first to map how changes in the expression of genes that control bone cell activity lead to a change in the bone tissue structure. These advances are making a significant contribution towards the development of therapies that will slow the progression of these prevalent musculoskeletal diseases and delay if not obviate the need for expensive surgery associated with joint replacement.
To view more information about specific research topics or to find out more about the laboratory follow the links below or simply scroll down the page.
We
have developed and implemented a number of new technologies in our laboratory
(including microCT,
backscatter scanning electron microscopy, and confocal
microscopy), which enables us to undertake novel measurements of bone
quality from patients with osteoporotic fragility fractures and patients
with osteoarthritis. The material properties of bone are related to the
degree of bone tissue-level mineralisation and the accumulation of microscopic
cracks in the bone matrix (bone microdamage). We have developed a quantitative
backscattered electron imaging technique that allows visualisation and
quantitation of the degree of bone matrix mineralisation in human bone
samples. We are using novel tissue staining techniques and confocal microscopy
to study the extent, morphology and repair of microdamage in human bone.
If the skeleton does not adequately detect and remove (i.e. repair) microdamage,
it accumulates, resulting in degradation of the bone biomechanical properties
and potentially an increased risk of fracture. Since all hierarchical
levels of bone structure from the macro- to the nano-scale contribute
to its mechanical performance, modifications at any level may compromise
bone strength. A better understanding of the factors that influence bone
strength will enable development of improved diagnostic techniques and
more effective treatments for individuals at risk of osteoporotic fragility
fracture.
To
gain a better understanding of the complex regulatory networks and pathways
that are perturbed in the musculoskeletal diseases osteoarthritis and
osteoporosis we are taking a systems biology approach. We are using microarray
analysis to look at the changes in gene
expression of many thousands of genes
to better understand the molecular changes in bone that contribute to
osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. In this way we hope to provide new insights
into the molecular mechanisms that lead to osteoarthritis and osteoporosis,
generate gene expression profiles to enable early diagnosis and provide
new gene targets for the development of effective drug therapies.
The
studies of bone
structure utilize a number of strategies to quantitate contributors
to bone strength. Non-destructive microCT
enables multiple analyses to be performed on the same bone sample. In
our laboratory, analysis of the 3D architecture of bone from the microCT
datasets and analysis of bone mineral concentration by back-scattered
electron microscopy (BSEM) are performed. The strength of the bone samples
is measured by compressive mechanical testing, enabling the contribution
to bone strength of bone architecture and bone material properties to
be determined. In addition, peripheral
quantitative CT imaging is available at an intermediate scanning resolution,
which will enable results from the high-resolution microCT scanning to
be compared to results obtained at a clinically available resolution.
Degeneration
of the lumbar disc
with age, disease
and mechanical wear is a primary cause of low
back pain, a condition which will afflict around 80% of all people
at some point during their lives.
Studies conducted in our laboratory have demonstrated that changes to
disc structure and function with degeneration are linked to changes which
occur within the bone of the adjacent vertebral bodies.
Additional studies currently underway aim to uncover the nature of the
contributions made by individual extracellular matrix elements, such as
collagens,
proteoglycans
and elastic
fibres, to disc tissue architecture and mechanical function, and improve
our understanding of their roles in the degenerative process.
Studies
of trabecular bone, engineered
tissue scaffolds and their osseointergration and/or resorption are
currently being studied. Structural features at all length scales affect
bone formation or resorption within a scaffold. At the nano-scale, surface
chemistry plays an important role, especially related to biocompatibility.
On the other end of the spectrum, the macro design of implants can create
form and, in the short term, contribute to restoration of strength for
function. In the middle length scales, surface texture has been shown
to be particularly important for osseointegration of implant materials.
Recent investigations indicate that microarchitecture in the ten to hundreds
of micrometer length is also important. Our research focuses on assessing
the efficacy and developing appropriately tailored biomaterial and microarchitecture
combinations to meet patient needs in fracture repair and implant longevity.
For laboratory publications from the last 15 years please follow the link below.
Currently Funded Peer Reviewed Projects
The Bone & Joint Research Laboratory has a progressive and exciting postgraduate programme for recent graduates intending to undertake Honours, Masters or Doctor of Philosophy programs. Further information regarding these programs can be obtained by following the links below or contacting the B&JRL. Core Facilities The Bone & Joint Research Laboratory has access to a wide range of state of the art research facilities, including some core facilities listed below. The Detmold Family Trust Cell Imaging Centre |
