X-ray tomography as a complementary technique to nuclear microscopy for biomedical applications

Abstract X-ray micro-computed tomography is an excellent tool to examine the morphology of a sample in a non-destructive way, making its inner structure visible. Nuclear microscopy provides quantitative information about the elemental distribution and concentration. Both can be used as complementary techniques in order to get more information about the samples. Osteoporosis is a disease that deteriorates the bone due to, among other things, a failure in the normal hormonal function. In this project, bones from rats under osteoporosis treatments based on hormonal supplementation, as well as healthy bones and osteoporotic ones without treatment, have been analyzed by both nuclear microscopy and X-ray micro-tomography. Following the results achieved by nuclear microscopy, quantitative concentration and distribution of elements such as Ca and P suggested a change in bone density. In order to image this change of density, the same samples have been analyzed by micro-tomography.