Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of human subchondral bone in osteoarthritis
S. Benhmida
, H. Trabelsi
Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this work is to use infrared (IR) spectroscopy to examine the mineral and organic composition of osteoarthritic subchondral bone in order to detect chemical changes linked to osteoarthritis and enhance comprehension of its underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Seventeen subchondral bone samples were compared; seven were actively involved in the disease of osteoarthritis, while the ten other samples were normal. The KBr pellet method was utilized in generating the FT-IR spectra from the bone samples. Bone samples (powdered and ground) were mixed with KBr, pressed at five tons for two to five minutes, to create pellets that would be suitable for FT-IR spectral analysis. With the Perkin-Elmer 2000 FTIR spectrophotometer, spectra were generated with a resolution of 0.5 cm⁻¹. Once spectra were created from samples that had been selected because of characteristic bone structural features and had acceptable spectral quality, the quantitative FTIR measurement of the original samples was based on the data collected from the selected samples. Results: The result of the spectral analyses indicated moderate differences between the OA and healthy bone samples with respect to the composition of the bone matrix. Moreover, the quantitative FT-IR analyses indicated a statistically significant difference (<0.05) when measuring the amide-related ratio, suggesting that the organic matrix and collagen organization have been altered. There were no significant differences between groups when measuring the mineral-to-matrix ratio or carbonate-to-phosphate ratio; however, relative to the phosphate region, moderate spectral variations were observed within phosphate-related areas. Conclusion: The IR spectroscope could be used to facilitate understanding of changes in the composition of osteoarthritic bones. Quantitative FTIR data may further help establish the presence of subchondral bone alteration and could be applicable for future studies examining regenerative and technological (nanotechnology)-based interventions for osteoarthritis.
Series on Biomechanics, Vol.40, No. 2 (2026), 36-44
DOI: 10.7546/SB.40.02.04.2026
Keywords: analysis; infrared spectroscopy; osteoarthritis; subchondral bone
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| Date published: 2026-07-17
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