**Section 3**

**Biomedical Applications** 

256 Infrared Spectroscopy – Life and Biomedical Sciences

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**15** 

*Greece* 

**The Role of β-Antagonists on the Structure** 

**of Human Bone – A Spectroscopic Study** 

*1National Technical University of Athens, Chemical Engineering Department, Radiation Chemistry and Biospectroscopy, Zografou Campus, Zografou, Athens* 

Human bones are inherently complex materials consisting of minerals, collagen, water, noncollagenous proteins, lipids, vascular elements and cells. The bone is a physiologically active and reactive tissue (Petra et al., 2005). Through hormonal or mechanical signals the osteoblasts and osteoclasts are forming the bones. It is known that the role of osteoblasts is to create a collagen-rich extracellular matrix, which will become mineralized (bone formation) with calcium. On the other hand, the main role of osteoclasts is to degrade calcified bone tissue (resorption) (Shier et al., 1996). In the bone microenvironment, there is a dynamic balance between resorption and formation that maintains skeletal homeostasis. This process between bone formation and bone resorption is called remodelling. Bone remodelling and bone loss, is in function of age, external mechanical loads originating from

The inorganic component of bone accounts approximately to 65% of the wet weight of bone and it is not pure hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, but a poorly crystalline calcium hydroxide in a deficient biological apatite, containing numerous trace anions, the most abundant of

anions, as well as, magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+) cations. These anions and cations are common substitutes of calcium and hydroxide (OH) in hydroxyapatite (Petra et al., 2005; Maguire and Cowan, 2002). The major organic component of bone is collagen, predominantly type I, which provides the bone with elasticity and flexibility and directs the organisation of matrix. Water accounts for 5-10% and collagen with proteins are about 25-30% of the weight of bone tissue. Hydrogen bonds between water and collagen contribute to the stabilisation of a triple helix, and there have been suggestions that dehydration of the collagen may take place

In the last decade, there is an increasing interest in using infrared spectroscopy to evaluate and study biological systems (Petra et al., 2005; Mantsch et al., 1986; Anastassopoulou et al., 2008, 2009, 2011; Conti et al., 2008; Kolovou and Anastassopoulou, 2007;Pissaridi etal., 2011;

2-) and acid phosphate (HPO4

during demineralization of bone (Petra et al., 2005; Buckwalter et al., 2000).

**1. Introduction** 

physical activity and diseases.

which is carbonate (CO3

*2National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Athens* 

2-), fluoride (F-

) and citrate (C6H5O7

3-)

J. Anastassopoulou1, P. Kolovou1,

P. Papagelopoulos2 and T. Theophanides1
