How does the lacunar-canalicular network reform in grafted bone?

Bone grafting is a common healthcare procedure, carried out using natural bone (autograft) or animal derived (xenograft) or synthetic materials. Autografts are preferred but are often not possible meaning that synthetic and xenograft options must be considered. Development targets for synthetic and xenograft materials focus on increasing the speed the graft becomes incorporated with less attention to its long-term stability. Bone’s stability and ability to repair itself is influenced by many variables, but a fluid filled network connecting osteocyte cells called the lacunar-canalicular network (LCN) has been shown to be critical. Here we aim to use the sub-micron tomographic imaging at ID16A to characterize the LCN network in bone regenerated by autologous vs xenografts vs synthetic approaches, correlating with histology and electron microscopy studies to test the hypothesis - LCN architecture varies between grafted bone depending on graft type and this impacts response to insult.