Spectroscopic Analysis of Bone Grafting Materials to Inspect Elemental Composition

Objectives: Bone grafts are widely used to promote bone formation in areas of bone loss. Grafts are often resorbable in tissue, therefore this study aimed to understand the elemental composition of bone graft materials.
Methods: The elemental composition of bone graft materials (BGM) from eight suppliers were analyzed using Rigaku NEX-DE X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometer: Cerasorb, BioOss cancellous, Ossix Bone, Osteogenics, Osteograf, PepGen, Bone Ceramic and Symbios. Samples were analyzed in 32mm polyethylene sample cups and exposed to XRF in helium atmosphere, room temperature, for 60 seconds for each of high, mid, and low-z elements including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, aluminum, and lesser abundant elements, such as tungsten and strontium. NEX-DE EZ-Analysis software reported intensities and ppm of elements found in samples. Two spectroscopic analyses for each BGM were performed in different lots of BGMs.
Results: All BGMs reported highest levels of calcium, and phosphorus, respectively. Sulfur was abundant in all but one BGM. The presence of metals zinc, aluminum, copper, iron, and nickel were all also present in BGMs in lesser amounts. Tungsten was not reported in any BGM. However, all BGMs contained low levels of strontium, with PepGen P-15 reporting the highest level (196ppm). PepGen also reported a very low intensity of titanium. The Symbios BGM was detected for a low abundance of lead (5.69ppm) and zirconium (2.13ppm).
Conclusions: Bone grafting materials present consistent results in their composition with low levels of specific metal elements such as strontium, titanium, and lead in certain BGMs that could possibly influence the host-tissue response in bone grafting procedures.