Mechanical characterization of Col1a1 osteogenesis imperfecta bone revealed altered mechanical stiffness heterogeneity across scales
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study presents a novel integrated multiscale approach that combines whole-bone strain mapping, nanoscale mechanical testing, and compositional profiling to reveal how structural changes across scales impair bone quality in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). OI is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in type I collagen that leads to fragile bones. Using femurs from male Col1a1 +/− haploinsufficient OI (type I) mice, we examined how mechanics relate to structural and compositional changes. The results indicate that OI bone exhibits increased heterogeneity in mechanical properties and lacks the characteristic alternating soft and stiff lamellae that are critical for absorbing fracture energy in healthy bone. While previous studies have investigated OI biomechanics, few have integrated a framework spanning the organ, tissue, and nanoscale levels. Our results underscore the importance of restoring the hierarchical bone architecture and suggest a need for therapies that target bone quality, not just bone mass, to effectively mitigate fracture risk in OI.
Source: Cell Biomaterials
Authors: Hanwen Fan, Ellen Busschers, Hutomo Tanoto, Anoushka Prabhu, Dinh Sang Bui, Preston Nguyen, Julia Kehl, Carla Berrospe-Rodriguez, Yuqing Chen, Carolina Leynes, Guillermo Aguilar, Yangjin Bae, Brendan Lee, Yuxiao Zhou
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $9,350
Funders: Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A and M University, University of Texas at Austin, National Institutes of Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Texas A and M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A and M University, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
OpenAlex ID: W4415904350