Abstract

A simple photoacoustic method was used to evaluate bovine cortical bone samples. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of glycation in bones due to non-physiological crosslinks on the properties of collagen. The average amplitude of the ultrasonic waves generated by the near-infrared pulsed laser irradiation was smaller in the glycated bone sample than in the reference (normal) sample. The results indicate that glycation due to diabetes might affect the photoacoustic properties of the bone. Ultrasonic waves with a small amplitude were also generated in the bone because the bone sample was not perfectly opaque to the light used.