Imaging Resin-Cast Osteocyte Lacuno-Canalicular System at Bone-Bioactive Glass Interface by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract

The morphology of the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular system at the bone-biomaterial implant-interface has not been fully investigated. In this study, the resin-cast scanning electron microscopy technique was used, for the first time, to image the lacuno-canalicular network within neoformed bone around bioactive glass (BG) particles implanted in rat tibia bone marrow. The most salient finding was that the osteocyte canaliculi pass through the calcium-phosphorus layer formed at the bone-BG interface and reach the silica-rich layer of the reacted BG.

resin-cast SEM, osteocytes, lacuno-canalicular system, bioactive glass