Bone is a complex matrix of organic and inorganic components whose composition and crystallinity depend on many factors such as age, gender, genetic make-up and health of the individual. The variation in composition can be useful as an indicator of disease: for example, osteoporitic bones present abnormally low mineral:protein and low mineral:lipid ratios as well as lower crystallinity. Raman microscopy offers a rapid method for evaluating the mineral, protein and fat composition of bone, and of selected areas within the bone, down to 2 µm. In this study of human cortical bone samples from young ( < 50 yrs) and older (> 50 yrs) males and females, we show that young males and females can be differentiated by the protein:lipid Raman band intensity ratios. The Raman band intensity ratio for mineral:protein is shown to be able to distinguish bones of different age groups: (47-53, 58-62 and 70+ yrs). The variation of microstructures within the cortical bone, visible as light/dark spots under optical microscopy, could be distinguished according to phosphate:protein and carbonate:protein rations. This ability of this technique to identify variation within bone microstructures and to classify bone samples according to age and gender from their Raman spectra provides a new tool for studies of bone disease.
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