Imaging of bone formation and fracture in tissue engineered models of bone pathologies

Victoria's interest is in understanding the mechanism by which bone's quality and toughness become altered in pathologies, such as osteoporosis.

Her work will use micromechanical testing in the scanning electron microscope to relate the micromechanics of hydrated murine bone to its structure. This new in situ micro-mechanical testing technique will isolate the micro and nano toughening mechanisms of bone tissue and will reveal how altered structure and chemistry in pathologic bone can be related to reduced tissue toughness and fracture. Deformation of bone tissue in hydrated state closely mimic the native environment of bone in the body.

New tissue engineered bone models, developed through a cell-regulated mineralization process, will also be imaged by transmission electron microscopy to generate new mechanistic understanding of how cell-regulated mineralisation is altered in pathologic tissue. A clearer understanding of these models' structural and mechanical characteristics will validate them as an in vitro proxy of the in vivo bone mineralization process and as a new model for testing drugs compliant with the 3Rs of Animals in Research (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement).

The production and processing of materials accounts for 15% of UK GDP and generates exports valued at £50bn annually, with UK materials related industries having a turnover of £197bn/year. It is, therefore, clear that the success of the UK economy is linked to the success of high value materials manufacturing, spanning a broad range of industrial sectors. In order to remain competitive and innovate in these sectors it is necessary to understand fundamental properties and critical processes at a range of length scales and dynamically and link these to the materials' performance. It is in this underpinning space that the CDT-ACM fits.

The impact of the CDT will be wide reaching, encompassing all organisations who research, manufacture or use advanced materials in sectors ranging from energy and transport to healthcare and the environment. Industry will benefit from the supply of highly skilled research scientists and engineers with the training necessary to advance materials development in all of these crucial areas. UK and international research facilities (Diamond, ISIS, ILL etc.) will benefit greatly from the supply of trained researchers who have both in-depth knowledge of advanced characterisation techniques and a broad understanding of materials and their properties. UK academia will benefit from a pipeline of researchers trained in state-of the art techniques in world leading research groups, who will be in prime positions to win prestigious fellowships and lectureships. From a broader perspective, society in general will benefit from the range of planned outreach activities, such as the Mary Rose Trust, the Royal Society Summer Exhibition and visits to schools. These activities will both inform the general public and inspire the next generation of scientists.

The cohort based training offered by the CDT-ACM will provide the next generation of research scientists and engineers who will pioneer new research techniques, design new multi-instrument workflows and advance our knowledge in diverse fields. We will produce 70 highly qualified and skilled researchers who will support the development of new technologies, in for instance the field of electric vehicles, an area of direct relevance to the UK industrial impact strategy.
In summary, the CDT will address a skills gap that has arisen through the rapid development of new characterisation techniques; therefore, it will have a positive impact on industry, research facilities and academia and, consequently, wider society by consolidating and strengthening UK leadership in this field.