Application of small angle neutron scattering on the analysis of Korean compact jaw bone

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) was applied to analyze the nano-structure of normal and osteoporosis compact bones of Korean jaw-bones. The SANS profiles revealed the directional and regular distributions of plate-like bone crystals, lacuna rough surface and nano-sized canliculi in the compact bones. A smaller amount of bone crystals, lacuna and canliculi were present in the osteoporosis bone than in normal human bone. Microstructure observation by transmission electron microscopy and density measurement by bone densitometry supported the SANS evaluation.