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Sundar S, Koopman A, Manzoni TJ, Xie W, Bhatti QUA, Lo CY, Damani VS, Yang AN, Pochan D, Parreno J, Engiles JB, Kayser LV, Dhong C. Kinetics and Retention of Polystyrenesulfonate for Proteoglycan Replacement in Cartilage. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:5819-5833. [PMID: 39142342 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Tissue hydration provides articular cartilage with dynamic viscoelastic properties. Early stage osteoarthritis (OA) is marked by loss of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAG), lowering fixed charge density, and impairing tissue osmotic function. The most common GAG replacement, chondroitin sulfate (CS), has failed to show effectiveness. Here, we investigated a synthetic polyelectrolyte, poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS), both as a model compound to investigate polyelectrolyte transport in cartilage, and as a potential candidate to restore bulk fixed charge density in cartilage with GAG loss. Through bovine explants and histology, we determined zonal-based effective diffusion coefficients for three different molecular weights of PSS. Compared to CS, PSS was retained longer in GAG-depleted cartilage in static and compression-based desorption experiments. We explained enhanced solute performance of PSS by its more compact morphology and higher charge density by small-angle X-ray scattering. This study may improve design of GAG mimetic molecules for repairing osmotic function in OA cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Sundar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Allison Koopman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Thomas J Manzoni
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Weiran Xie
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Qurat-Ul-Ain Bhatti
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Chun-Yuan Lo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Vidhika S Damani
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Ai Nin Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Darrin Pochan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Justin Parreno
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Julie B Engiles
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square 19348, Pennsylvania, United States
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348, United States
| | - Laure V Kayser
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
| | - Charles Dhong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, Delaware, United States
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2
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Huang L, Li H, Wen S, Xia P, Zeng F, Peng C, Yang J, Tan Y, Liu J, Jiang L, Wang J. Control nucleation for strong and tough crystalline hydrogels with high water content. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7777. [PMID: 39237555 PMCID: PMC11377714 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52264-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels, provided that they integrate strength and toughness at desired high content of water, promise in load-bearing tissues such as articular cartilage, ligaments, tendons. Many developed strategies impart hydrogels with some mechanical properties akin to natural tissues, but compromise water content. Herein, a strategy deprotonation-complexation-reprotonation is proposed to prepare polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels with water content as high as ~80% and favorable mechanical properties, including tensile strength of 7.4 MPa, elongation of around 1350%, and fracture toughness of 12.4 kJ m-2. The key to water holding yet improved mechanical properties lies in controllable nucleation for refinement of crystalline morphology. With nearly constant water content, mechanical properties of as-prepared hydrogels are successfully tailored by tuning crystal nuclei density via deprotonation degree and their distribution uniformity via complexation temperature. This work provides a nucleation concept to design robust hydrogels with desired water content, holding implications for practical application in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limei Huang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Li
- Institute of Laser Manufacturing, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shunxi Wen
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Penghui Xia
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Fanzhan Zeng
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Chaoyi Peng
- Zhuzhou Times New Material Technology CO., LTD., Zhuzhou, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Zhuzhou Times New Material Technology CO., LTD., Zhuzhou, China
| | - Yun Tan
- Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ji Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interface Sciences, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry Chinese, Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China.
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3
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Nordberg RC, Hight JM, Kim AN, Meka RS, Elder BD, Hu JC, Athanasiou KA. Biomechanical, biochemical, and histological characterization of sacroiliac joint cartilage in the Yucatan minipig. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2024; 157:106658. [PMID: 39018919 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Although the sacroiliac (SI) joint can be a source of lower back and buttock pain, no comprehensive characterization studies on SI cartilage have been conducted. Using the minipig as a large animal model, this study conducted the first biomechanical, biochemical, and histological characterization of SI joint cartilage. Because previous literature has reported that sacral cartilage and iliac cartilage within the SI joint are histologically distinct, concomitantly it was expected that functional properties of the sacral cartilage would differ from those of the iliac cartilage. Creep indentation, uniaxial tension, biochemical, and histological analyses were conducted on the sacral and iliac cartilage of skeletally mature female Yucatan minipigs (n = 6-8 for all quantitative tests). Concurring with prior literature, the iliac cartilage appeared to be more fibrous than the sacral cartilage. Glycosaminoglycan content was 2.2 times higher in the sacral cartilage. The aggregate modulus of the sacral cartilage was 133 ± 62 kPa, significantly higher than iliac cartilage, which only had an aggregate modulus of 51 ± 61 kPa. Tensile testing was conducted in both cranial-caudal and ventral-dorsal axes, and Young's modulus values ranged from 2.5 ± 1.5 MPa to 13.6 ± 1.5 MPa, depending on anatomical structure (i.e., sacral vs. iliac) and orientation of the tensile test. The Young's modulus of sacral cartilage was 5.5 times higher in the cranial-caudal axis and 2.0 times higher in the ventral-dorsal axis than the iliac cartilage. The results indicate that the sacral and iliac cartilages are functionally distinct from each other. Understanding the distinct differences between sacral and iliac cartilage provides insight into the structure and function of the SI joint, which may inform future research aimed at repairing SI joint cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C Nordberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3131 Engineering Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
| | - Justin M Hight
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3131 Engineering Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
| | - Andrew N Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3131 Engineering Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
| | - Rithika S Meka
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3131 Engineering Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
| | - Benjamin D Elder
- Department of Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Jerry C Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3131 Engineering Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
| | - Kyriacos A Athanasiou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3131 Engineering Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA.
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4
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Seitz AM, Niehoff A. [Tissue biomechanics: connective tissue characterization : Cluster tissue biomechanics]. ORTHOPADIE (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 53:503-510. [PMID: 38829400 DOI: 10.1007/s00132-024-04517-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The various connective tissues of the body have different functions, which result from their specific structure and composition. The identification of this structure-function relationship is of great importance for various disciplines such as medicine, biology or tissue engineering. Connective tissue consists mainly of an extracellular matrix (ECM) and a limited number of cells. It is extremely adaptable because the activity of the cells remodels the composition and structure of the ECM in order to adapt the mechanical properties (functions) to the new demands (e.g. an increased mechanical stimulus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Martin Seitz
- Institut für Unfallchirurgische Forschung und Biomechanik, Zentrum für Traumaforschung Ulm, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Helmholtzstraße 14, 89081, Ulm, Deutschland.
| | - Anja Niehoff
- Institut für Biomechanik und Orthopädie, Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Köln, Deutschland.
- Cologne Center for Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität zu Köln, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50931, Köln, Deutschland.
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Rajankunte Mahadeshwara M, Al-Jawad M, Hall RM, Pandit H, El-Gendy R, Bryant M. How Do Cartilage Lubrication Mechanisms Fail in Osteoarthritis? A Comprehensive Review. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:541. [PMID: 38927777 PMCID: PMC11200606 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11060541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cartilage degeneration is a characteristic of osteoarthritis (OA), which is often observed in aging populations. This degeneration is due to the breakdown of articular cartilage (AC) mechanical and tribological properties primarily attributed to lubrication failure. Understanding the reasons behind these failures and identifying potential solutions could have significant economic and societal implications, ultimately enhancing quality of life. This review provides an overview of developments in the field of AC, focusing on its mechanical and tribological properties. The emphasis is on the role of lubrication in degraded AC, offering insights into its structure and function relationship. Further, it explores the fundamental connection between AC mechano-tribological properties and the advancement of its degradation and puts forth recommendations for strategies to boost its lubrication efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Rajankunte Mahadeshwara
- Institute of Functional Surfaces, Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (M.A.-J.); (R.E.-G.)
| | - Maisoon Al-Jawad
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (M.A.-J.); (R.E.-G.)
| | - Richard M. Hall
- School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Hemant Pandit
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine (LIRMM), University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds LS7 4SA, UK;
| | - Reem El-Gendy
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (M.A.-J.); (R.E.-G.)
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 3, Ismailia Governorate 8366004, Egypt
| | - Michael Bryant
- Institute of Functional Surfaces, Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
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Springer CS, Pike MM, Barbara TM. A Futile Cycle?: Tissue Homeostatic Trans-Membrane Water Co-Transport: Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Metabolic Consequences. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.17.589812. [PMID: 38659823 PMCID: PMC11042311 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.17.589812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The phenomenon of active trans-membrane water cycling (AWC) has emerged in little over a decade. Here, we consider H2O transport across cell membranes from the origins of its study. Historically, trans-membrane water transport processes were classified into: A) compensating bidirectional fluxes ("exchange"), and B) unidirectional flux ("net flow") categories. Recent literature molecular structure determinations and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations indicate probably all the many different hydrophilic substrate membrane co-transporters have membrane-spanning hydrophilic pathways and co-transport water along with their substrates, and that they individually catalyze category A and/or B water flux processes, although usually not simultaneously. The AWC name signifies that, integrated over the all the cell's co-transporters, the rate of homeostatic, bidirectional trans-cytolemmal water exchange (category A) is synchronized with the metabolic rate of the crucial Na+,K+-ATPase (NKA) enzyme. A literature survey indicates the stoichiometric (category B) water/substrate ratios of individual co-transporters are often very large. The MD simulations also suggest how different co-transporter reactions can be kinetically coupled molecularly. Is this (Na+,K+-ATPase rate-synchronized) cycling futile, or is it consequential? Conservatively representative literature metabolomic and proteinomic results enable comprehensive free energy analyses of the many transport reactions with known water stoichiometries. Free energy calculations, using literature intracellular pressure (Pi) values reveals there is an outward trans-membrane H2O barochemical gradient of magnitude comparable to that of the well-known inward Na+ electrochemical gradient. For most co-influxers, these gradients are finely balanced to maintain intracellular metabolite concentration values near their consuming enzyme Michaelis constants. The thermodynamic analyses include glucose, glutamate-, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and lactate- transporters. 2%-4% Pi alterations can lead to disastrous concentration levels. For the neurotransmitters glutamate- and GABA, very small astrocytic Pi changes can allow/disallow synaptic transmission. Unlike the Na+ and K+ electrochemical steady-states, the H2O barochemical steady-state is in (or near) chemical equilibrium. The analyses show why the presence of aquaporins (AQPs) does not dissipate the trans-membrane pressure gradient. A feedback loop inherent in the opposing Na+ electrochemical and H2O barochemical gradients regulates AQP-catalyzed water flux as an integral AWC aspect. These results also require a re-consideration of the underlying nature of Pi. Active trans-membrane water cycling is not futile, but is inherent to the cell's "NKA system" - a new, fundamental aspect of biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Springer
- Advanced Imaging Research Center
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University; Portland, Oregon
| | - Martin M Pike
- Advanced Imaging Research Center
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University; Portland, Oregon
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7
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Blom RP, Rahim D, Paardekam E, Kerkhoffs GMMJ, Iannuzzi D, Smit TH. A Traumatic Impact Immediately Changes the Mechanical Properties of Articular Cartilage. Cartilage 2024:19476035241235633. [PMID: 38501455 DOI: 10.1177/19476035241235633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether and how a single traumatic impact changes the mechanical properties of talar articular cartilage. DESIGN A marble was placed on the joint surface and a weight was dropped on both medial and lateral caprine talus to create a well-defined single focal impact. The mechanical properties of intact and impacted talar cartilage were measured with a micro-indenter. Elastic (storage) and viscous (loss) moduli were determined by oscillatory ramp and dynamic mechanical analysis protocols. RESULTS We found significant differences between ankles and within the same ankle joint, with the medial talus having significantly higher storage- and loss moduli than the lateral talus. The storage- and loss moduli of intact articular cartilage increased with greater indentation depths. However, postimpact the storage- and loss moduli were significantly and consistently lower in all specimens indicating immediate posttraumatic damage. The deeper regions of talar cartilage were less affected by the impact than the more superficial regions. CONCLUSIONS A single traumatic impact results in an immediate and significant decrease of storage- and loss moduli. Further research must focus on the development of non- or minimally invasive diagnostic tools to address the exact microdamage caused by the impact. We speculate that the traumatic impact damaged the collagen fibers that confine the water-binding proteoglycans and thereby decreasing the hydrostatic pressure of cartilage. As part of the treatment directly after a trauma, one could imagine a reduction or restriction of peak loads to prevent the progression of the cascade towards PTOA of the ankle joint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin P Blom
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Sports, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Academic Center for Evidence-based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- IOC Research Center, Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danka Rahim
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Paardekam
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB, VU, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gino M M J Kerkhoffs
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Sports, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Academic Center for Evidence-based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- IOC Research Center, Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Davide Iannuzzi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB, VU, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Theodoor H Smit
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Sports, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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Schwer J, Ignatius A, Seitz AM. The biomechanical properties of human menisci: A systematic review. Acta Biomater 2024; 175:1-26. [PMID: 38092252 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Biomechanical characterization of meniscal tissue ex vivo remains a critical need, particularly for the development of suitable meniscus replacements or therapeutic strategies that target the native mechanical properties of the meniscus. To date, a huge variety of test configurations and protocols have been reported, making it extremely difficult to compare the respective outcome parameters, thereby leading to misinterpretation. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to identify test-specific parameters that contribute to uncertainties in the determination of mechanical properties of the human meniscus and its attachments, which derived from common quasi-static and dynamic tests in tension, compression, and shear. Strong evidence was found that the determined biomechanical properties vary significantly depending on the specific test parameters, as indicated by up to tenfold differences in both tensile and compressive properties. Test mode (stress relaxation, creep, cyclic) and configuration (unconfined, confined, in-situ), specimen shape and dimensions, preconditioning regimes, loading rates, post-processing of experimental data, and specimen age and degeneration were identified as the most critical parameters influencing the outcome measures. In conclusion, this work highlights an unmet need for standardization and reporting guidelines to facilitate comparability and may prove beneficial for evaluating the mechanical properties of novel meniscus constructs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The biomechanical properties of the human meniscus have been studied extensively over the past decades. However, it remains unclear to what extent both test protocol and specimen-related differences are responsible for the enormous variability in material properties. Therefore, this systematic review analyzes the biomechanical properties of the human meniscus in the context of the underlying testing protocol. The most sensitive parameters affecting the determination of mechanical properties were identified and critically discussed. Currently, it is of utmost importance for scientists evaluating potential meniscal scaffolds and biomaterials to have a control group rather than a direct comparison to the literature. Standardization of both test procedures and reporting requirements is needed to improve and accelerate the development of meniscal replacement constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Schwer
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, Center for Trauma Research Ulm, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anita Ignatius
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, Center for Trauma Research Ulm, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andreas Martin Seitz
- Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, Center for Trauma Research Ulm, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
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9
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Cowie RM, Macri-Pellizzeri L, McLaren J, Sanderson WJ, Felfel RM, Scotchford CA, Scammell BE, Grant DM, Sottile V, Jennings LM. Functional performance of a bi-layered chitosan-nano-hydroxyapatite osteochondral scaffold: a pre-clinical in vitro tribological study. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:230431. [PMID: 38204795 PMCID: PMC10776221 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Osteochondral grafts are used for repair of focal osteochondral lesions. Autologous grafts are the gold standard treatment; however, limited graft availability and donor site morbidity restrict use. Therefore, there is a clinical need for different graft sources/materials which replicate natural cartilage function. Chitosan has been proposed for this application. The aim of this study was to assess the biomechanics and biotribology of a bioresorbable chitosan/chitosan-nano-hydroxyapatite osteochondral construct (OCC), implanted in an in vitro porcine knee experimental simulation model. The OCC implanted in different surgical positions (flush, proud and inverted) was compared to predicate grafts in current clinical use and a positive control consisting of a stainless steel graft implanted proud of the cartilage surface. After 3 h (10 800 cycles) wear simulation under a walking gait, subsidence occurred in all OCC samples irrespective of surgical positioning, but with no apparent loss of material and low meniscus wear. Half the predicate grafts exhibited delamination and scratching of the cartilage surfaces. No graft subsidence occurred in the positive controls but wear and deformation of the meniscus were apparent. Implanting a new chitosan-based OCC either optimally (flush), inverted or proud of the cartilage surface resulted in minimal wear, damage and deformation of the meniscus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raelene M. Cowie
- Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Laura Macri-Pellizzeri
- Academic Unit Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jane McLaren
- Academic Unit Injury, Recovery and Inflammation Sciences (IRIS), School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Reda M. Felfel
- Advanced Materials Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Colin A. Scotchford
- Advanced Materials Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Brigitte E. Scammell
- Academic Unit Injury, Recovery and Inflammation Sciences (IRIS), School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - David M. Grant
- Advanced Materials Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Virginie Sottile
- Academic Unit Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Louise M. Jennings
- Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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10
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Ivanov I, Ranchev S, Stoychev S. Experimental Ultrasound Approach for Studying Knee Intra-Articular Femur-Tibia Movements under Different Loads. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2023; 9:8. [PMID: 38249085 PMCID: PMC10801608 DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to develop an experimental model for the study of intra-articular knee movements depending on the function of the knee joint and involved muscle groups under isometric stretching conditions with different loads. The experimental procedure included an ultrasound examination of a knee joint after isometric stretching in healthy men (n = 32). The changes (in millimeters) in the distances between the femur and tibia were measured using an ultrasound sonographer at three stages. The first stage was performed on ten (n = 10) healthy men in five different sitting and upright positions. In the second and third experimental model stages, lower limbs loading was applied to 22 participants. Our hypothesis, which was confirmed, was that as a result of increased loads on the participant's back, an intra-articular decrease in the femur-tibia cartilage surface distance would be observed. The accuracy of the created experimental model was improved over its three stages from 30% to 9%. Quantitative model data can help to create a mathematical model of the mechanical effects during the deformation of knee joint bone cartilage and it can also help outline some future tasks: increasing loading weights, enlarging participant groups, performing comparisons of men and women, and performing comparisons of healthy and pathological individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Ivanov
- National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski”, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Institute of Mechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Sergey Ranchev
- Institute of Mechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Stoyan Stoychev
- Institute of Mechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.R.); (S.S.)
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11
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Bačenková D, Trebuňová M, Demeterová J, Živčák J. Human Chondrocytes, Metabolism of Articular Cartilage, and Strategies for Application to Tissue Engineering. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17096. [PMID: 38069417 PMCID: PMC10707713 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242317096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyaline cartilage, which is characterized by the absence of vascularization and innervation, has minimal self-repair potential in case of damage and defect formation in the chondral layer. Chondrocytes are specialized cells that ensure the synthesis of extracellular matrix components, namely type II collagen and aggregen. On their surface, they express integrins CD44, α1β1, α3β1, α5β1, α10β1, αVβ1, αVβ3, and αVβ5, which are also collagen-binding components of the extracellular matrix. This article aims to contribute to solving the problem of the possible repair of chondral defects through unique methods of tissue engineering, as well as the process of pathological events in articular cartilage. In vitro cell culture models used for hyaline cartilage repair could bring about advanced possibilities. Currently, there are several variants of the combination of natural and synthetic polymers and chondrocytes. In a three-dimensional environment, chondrocytes retain their production capacity. In the case of mesenchymal stromal cells, their favorable ability is to differentiate into a chondrogenic lineage in a three-dimensional culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Bačenková
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Measurement, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia; (M.T.); (J.D.); (J.Ž.)
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12
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Mancini IAD, Levato R, Ksiezarczyk MM, Castilho MD, Chen M, van Rijen MHP, IJsseldijk LL, Kik M, van Weeren PR, Malda J. Microstructural differences in the osteochondral unit of terrestrial and aquatic mammals. eLife 2023; 12:e80936. [PMID: 38009703 PMCID: PMC10781421 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During evolution, animals have returned from land to water, adapting with morphological modifications to life in an aquatic environment. We compared the osteochondral units of the humeral head of marine and terrestrial mammals across species spanning a wide range of body weights, focusing on microstructural organization and biomechanical performance. Aquatic mammals feature cartilage with essentially random collagen fiber configuration, lacking the depth-dependent, arcade-like organization characteristic of terrestrial mammalian species. They have a less stiff articular cartilage at equilibrium with a significantly lower peak modulus, and at the osteochondral interface do not have a calcified cartilage layer, displaying only a thin, highly porous subchondral bone plate. This totally different constitution of the osteochondral unit in aquatic mammals reflects that accommodation of loading is the primordial function of the osteochondral unit. Recognizing the crucial importance of the microarchitecture-function relationship is pivotal for understanding articular biology and, hence, for the development of durable functional regenerative approaches for treatment of joint damage, which are thus far lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina AD Mancini
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Riccardo Levato
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Marlena M Ksiezarczyk
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Miguel Dias Castilho
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of TechnologyEindhovenNetherlands
| | - Michael Chen
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of AdelaideAdelaideAustralia
| | - Mattie HP van Rijen
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Lonneke L IJsseldijk
- Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Marja Kik
- Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - P René van Weeren
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Jos Malda
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Regenerative Medicine Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtNetherlands
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13
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Watkins LE, Goyal A, Gatti AA, Kogan F. Imaging of joint response to exercise with MRI and PET. Skeletal Radiol 2023; 52:2159-2183. [PMID: 36646851 PMCID: PMC10350475 DOI: 10.1007/s00256-022-04271-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Imaging of the joint in response to loading stress may provide additional measures of joint structure and function beyond conventional, static imaging studies. Exercise such as running, stair climbing, and squatting allows evaluation of the joint response to larger loading forces than during weight bearing. Quantitative MRI (qMRI) may assess properties of cartilage and meniscus hydration and organization in vivo that have been investigated to assess the functional response of these tissues to physiological stress. [18F]sodium fluoride ([18F]NaF) interrogates areas of newly mineralizing bone and provides an opportunity to study bone physiology, including perfusion and mineralization rate, as a measure of joint loading stress. In this review article, methods utilizing quantitative MRI, PET, and hybrid PET-MRI systems for assessment of the joint response to loading from exercise in vivo are examined. Both methodology and results of various studies performed are outlined and discussed. Lastly, the technical considerations, challenges, and future opportunities for these approaches are addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ananya Goyal
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Rd, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Anthony A Gatti
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Rd, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Feliks Kogan
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 1201 Welch Rd, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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14
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Mahmood F, Clarke J, Riches P. Is the mechanical function of meniscal tissue altered in osteoarthritic knees? Knee 2023; 44:194-200. [PMID: 37672911 DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deteriorating meniscal function is thought to play a role in knee osteoarthritis. Meniscal proteoglycans maintain mechanical stiffness of the tissue through electrostatic effects. This study aimed to investigate whether the mechanical properties of macroscopically intact meniscus are preserved in osteoarthritis. METHODS Discs of lateral meniscal tissue two millimetres thick and of five millimetres diameter from osteoarthritic knees and from healthy donors were placed within a confined compression chamber, mounted in a materials testing machine and bathed in isotonic 0.14M PBS, hypotonic deionised water or hypertonic 3M PBS. Following equilibrium, a 10% ramp compressive strain was applied followed by a 7200 second hold. Resultant stress relaxation curves were fitted to a nonlinear poroviscoelastic model with strain dependent permeability using finite element modelling to determine mechanical parameters. All samples were assayed for proteoglycan content. Comparison of results was undertaken using multivariate ANOVA. RESULTS Thirty samples from osteoarthritic knees and 18 samples from healthy donors were tested. No significant differences in mechanical parameters or proteoglycan content was observed between groups. In both groups Young's modulus (E) was significantly greater, and zero-strain permeability significantly reduced, in samples tested in deionised water compared to samples tested in 0.14M or 3M PBS (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Mechanical parameters of intact lateral meniscus in osteoarthritic knees are similar to those found in healthy knees. Proteoglycan concentration and their electrostatic contribution to mechanical stiffness of the meniscus is maintained in menisci derived from osteoarthritic knees. Whilst macroscopic tears in the meniscal ultrastructure may contribute to osteoarthritis, intact meniscal tissue maintains its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahd Mahmood
- Department of Orthopaedics, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Agamemnon Street, Clydebank G81 4DY, United Kingdom.
| | - Jon Clarke
- Department of Orthopaedics, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Agamemnon Street, Clydebank G81 4DY, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Riches
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wolfson Centre, University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond Street, Glasgow G1 1XQ, United Kingdom
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15
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Chang M, Takahashi Y, Miyahira K, Omuro Y, Montagne K, Yamada R, Gondo J, Kambe Y, Yasuno M, Masumoto N, Ushida T, Furukawa KS. Simultaneous Hydrostatic and Compressive Loading System for Mimicking the Mechanical Environment of Living Cartilage Tissue. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1632. [PMID: 37630168 PMCID: PMC10456493 DOI: 10.3390/mi14081632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
In vivo, articular cartilage tissue is surrounded by a cartilage membrane, and hydrostatic pressure (HP) and compressive strain increase simultaneously with the compressive stress. However, it has been impossible to investigate the effects of simultaneous loading in vitro. In this study, a bioreactor capable of applying compressive stress under HP was developed to reproduce ex vivo the same physical loading environment found in cartilage. First, a HP stimulation unit was constructed to apply a cyclic HP pressure-resistant chamber by controlling a pump and valve. A compression-loading mechanism that can apply compressive stress using an electromagnetic force was implemented in the chamber. The synchronization between the compression and HP units was evaluated, and the stimulation parameters were quantitatively evaluated. Physiological HP and compressive strain were applied to the chondrocytes encapsulated in alginate and gelatin gels after applying high HP at 25 MPa, which induced damage to the chondrocytes. It was found that compressive stimulation increased the expression of genes related to osteoarthritis. Furthermore, the simultaneous application of compressive strain and HP, which is similar to the physiological environment in cartilage, had an inhibitory effect on the expression of genes related to osteoarthritis. HP alone also suppressed the expression of osteoarthritis-related genes. Therefore, the simultaneous hydrostatic and compressive stress-loading device developed to simulate the mechanical environment in vivo may be an important tool for elucidating the mechanisms of disease onset and homeostasis in cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minki Chang
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (M.C.); (Y.O.)
| | - Yosuke Takahashi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (Y.T.); (K.M.); (K.M.); (R.Y.); (J.G.); (Y.K.); (T.U.)
| | - Kyosuke Miyahira
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (Y.T.); (K.M.); (K.M.); (R.Y.); (J.G.); (Y.K.); (T.U.)
| | - Yuma Omuro
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (M.C.); (Y.O.)
| | - Kevin Montagne
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (Y.T.); (K.M.); (K.M.); (R.Y.); (J.G.); (Y.K.); (T.U.)
| | - Ryusei Yamada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (Y.T.); (K.M.); (K.M.); (R.Y.); (J.G.); (Y.K.); (T.U.)
| | - Junki Gondo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (Y.T.); (K.M.); (K.M.); (R.Y.); (J.G.); (Y.K.); (T.U.)
| | - Yu Kambe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (Y.T.); (K.M.); (K.M.); (R.Y.); (J.G.); (Y.K.); (T.U.)
| | - Masashi Yasuno
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Engineering, Nippon Institute of Technology, Saitama 345-8501, Japan; (M.Y.); (N.M.)
| | - Noriyasu Masumoto
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Engineering, Nippon Institute of Technology, Saitama 345-8501, Japan; (M.Y.); (N.M.)
| | - Takashi Ushida
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (Y.T.); (K.M.); (K.M.); (R.Y.); (J.G.); (Y.K.); (T.U.)
| | - Katsuko S. Furukawa
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (M.C.); (Y.O.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; (Y.T.); (K.M.); (K.M.); (R.Y.); (J.G.); (Y.K.); (T.U.)
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16
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OKAY O. Cryogelation reactions and cryogels: principles and challenges. Turk J Chem 2023; 47:910-926. [PMID: 38173748 PMCID: PMC10760876 DOI: 10.55730/1300-0527.3586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryogelation is a powerful technique for producing macroporous hydrogels called cryogels. Although cryogelation reactions and cryogels were discovered more than 70 years ago, they attracted significant interest only in the last 20 years mainly due to their extraordinary properties compared to the classical hydrogels such as a high toughness, almost complete squeezability, a mechanically stable porous structure with honeycomb arrangement, poroelasticity, and fast responsivity against external stimuli. In this mini review, general properties of cryogelation systems including the cryoconcentration phenomenon responsible for the unique properties of the cryogels are discussed. The squeezability and poroelasticity of cryogels comparable to those seen with articular cartilage are also discussed. Cryogelation reactions conducted within the pores of preformed cryogels and some novel cryogels with attractive properties are then discussed in the last section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oğuz OKAY
- Department of Chemistry, Istanbul Technical University, İstanbul,
Turkiye
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17
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Fu L, Li L, Bian Q, Xue B, Jin J, Li J, Cao Y, Jiang Q, Li H. Cartilage-like protein hydrogels engineered via entanglement. Nature 2023; 618:740-747. [PMID: 37344650 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06037-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Load-bearing tissues, such as muscle and cartilage, exhibit high elasticity, high toughness and fast recovery, but have different stiffness (with cartilage being significantly stiffer than muscle)1-8. Muscle achieves its toughness through finely controlled forced domain unfolding-refolding in the muscle protein titin, whereas articular cartilage achieves its high stiffness and toughness through an entangled network comprising collagen and proteoglycans. Advancements in protein mechanics and engineering have made it possible to engineer titin-mimetic elastomeric proteins and soft protein biomaterials thereof to mimic the passive elasticity of muscle9-11. However, it is more challenging to engineer highly stiff and tough protein biomaterials to mimic stiff tissues such as cartilage, or develop stiff synthetic matrices for cartilage stem and progenitor cell differentiation12. Here we report the use of chain entanglements to significantly stiffen protein-based hydrogels without compromising their toughness. By introducing chain entanglements13 into the hydrogel network made of folded elastomeric proteins, we are able to engineer highly stiff and tough protein hydrogels, which seamlessly combine mutually incompatible mechanical properties, including high stiffness, high toughness, fast recovery and ultrahigh compressive strength, effectively converting soft protein biomaterials into stiff and tough materials exhibiting mechanical properties close to those of cartilage. Our study provides a general route towards engineering protein-based, stiff and tough biomaterials, which will find applications in biomedical engineering, such as osteochondral defect repair, and material sciences and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linglan Fu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics, Drum Tower Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyuan Bian
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bin Xue
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics, Drum Tower Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayu Li
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yi Cao
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics, Drum Tower Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongbin Li
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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18
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Liu J, Huang B, Ma Z, Xu S, Zhao H, Ren L. Full Regional Creep Displacement Map of Articular Cartilage Based on Nanoindentation Array. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023. [PMID: 37115745 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying articular cartilage lesions poses a formidable challenge in the field of cartilage repair. Despite significant strides in cartilage mechanics research, the region-dependent creep properties of articular cartilage remain elusive. In this study, we employ depth-sensing indentation tests to experimentally determine the creep properties of four distinct regions of articular cartilage, thereby unveiling a region-dependent full map of creep parameters. The measured creep displacement-time response curves indicate that the creep properties of the articular cartilage exhibit a clear regional correlation. Accordingly, the full regional creep map of articular cartilage is experimentally constructed for the first time. The correlation between the microstructures and the creep properties of cartilage in different regions is revealed. A three-parameter model is established to describe the creep velocity-displacement response of cartilage. Raman spectra reveal that the proteoglycan content is positively correlated with creep properties. The Raman shift directly indicates diverse residual stresses in different microregions. The obtained data facilitate a deep understanding of the potential creep dependent damage mechanism of cartilage and the further development of artificial cartilage materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jize Liu
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
| | - Bin Huang
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
| | - Zhichao Ma
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
- Key Laboratory of CNC Equipment Reliability Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
| | - Shuting Xu
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
- Key Laboratory of CNC Equipment Reliability Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
| | - Luquan Ren
- Weihai Institute for Bionics-Jilin University, Weihai 264207, China
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Belluzzi E, Todros S, Pozzuoli A, Ruggieri P, Carniel EL, Berardo A. Human Cartilage Biomechanics: Experimental and Theoretical Approaches towards the Identification of Mechanical Properties in Healthy and Osteoarthritic Conditions. Processes (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/pr11041014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Articular cartilage is a complex connective tissue with the fundamental functions of load bearing, shock absorption and lubrication in joints. However, traumatic events, aging and degenerative pathologies may affect its structural integrity and function, causing pain and long-term disability. Osteoarthritis represents a health issue, which concerns an increasing number of people worldwide. Moreover, it has been observed that this pathology also affects the mechanical behavior of the articular cartilage. To better understand this correlation, the here proposed review analyzes the physiological aspects that influence cartilage microstructure and biomechanics, with a special focus on the pathological changes caused by osteoarthritis. Particularly, the experimental data on human articular cartilage are presented with reference to different techniques adopted for mechanical testing and the related theoretical mechanical models usually applied to articular cartilage are briefly discussed.
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20
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Dong W, Wang X, Zhao Z, Fan F. Viability and Stability of Various-Sized Free Diced Cartilage in an Experimental Study. Aesthet Surg J 2023; 43:NP143-NP154. [PMID: 36228086 DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjac263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Historically, research of diced cartilage for rhinoplasty has mainly explored the efficacy of wrapped materials, with few studies dedicated to various sizes of diced cartilage. OBJECTIVES The authors of this study sought to evaluate the viability and stability of various-sized free diced cartilage. METHODS The remaining costal cartilage was harvested during rhinoplasties and implanted into subcutaneous pockets on the backs of nude mice: shaved cartilage (group A, n = 8), diced cartilage with a diameter <0.5 mm (group B, n = 8), 0.5 to 1.0 mm (group C, n = 8), and 1.0 to 1.5 mm (group D, n = 8). After 12 weeks, weight and volume retention rates, histopathological examinations, and biomechanical properties were evaluated. RESULTS Cartilage grafts in groups A and B showed an obvious loss of contour and severe dispersion. The weight and volume of cartilage graft in group A were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference, group D (122.8 ± 15.4%) achieved the highest weight retention rate compared with groups B and C (114.6 ± 7.1% and 114.3 ± 10.1%, respectively). Group A showed the most apparent chondrocyte nucleus loss with the least peripheral proliferation, and group D showed the best regeneration potential (all P < 0.05). Group C achieved less chondrocyte nucleus loss than group B (P < 0.05). The compressive elastic modulus increased with the diameter of diced cartilage (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Diced cartilage with a diameter of 1.0 to 1.5 mm may have the highest viability and stability, followed by those of 0.5 to 1.0 mm and <0.5 mm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfang Dong
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Twelfth Department of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenmin Zhao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Fan
- Twelfth Department of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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21
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Mechanical properties of extensive calcified costal cartilage: An experimental study. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13656. [PMID: 36865463 PMCID: PMC9970894 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Autologous costal cartilage is widely used as nasal augmentation or nasal reconstruction material. However, no study has focused on the mechanical difference between no calcified costal cartilage and extensive calcified costal cartilage at present. Our study aims to study the loading behavior of calcified costal cartilage under tensile and compressive stress. Method Human costal cartilage specimen was obtained from five extensive calcified costal cartilage patients and classified into four groups (group A: no calcified costal cartilage; group B: calcified costal cartilage; group C: no calcified costal cartilage after transplantation in BALB/c nude mice for half a year; group D: calcified costal cartilage after transplantation in BALB/c nude mice for half a year). Young's modulus, stress relaxation slope, and relaxation amount were analyzed through tensile and compressive tests using a material testing machine. Results We included five female patients with extensive calcified costal cartilage. Group B exhibited significantly higher Young's modulus in both the tensile and compressive tests (p < 0.05 in tensile test, p < 0.01 in compressive test), higher relaxation slope (P < 0.01) and higher relaxation amount (p < 0.05 in compression test). After transplantation, the Young's modulus of calcified and non-calcified costal cartilage decreased, except that the calcified costal cartilage increased slightly in the tensile test. The final relaxation slope and relaxation amount had increased at different degrees, but the changes did not change significantly before and after transplantation (P > 0.05). Conclusion Our results showed that the stiffness of calcified cartilage would increase 30.06% under tension and 126.31% under compression. This study may provide new insights to researchers focusing on extensive calcified costal cartilage can be used for autologous graft material.
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22
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Sundar S, Linardi R, Gaesser A, Guo T, Ortved K, Engiles J, Parreno J, Dhong C. Optics-Free, In Situ Swelling Monitoring of Articular Cartilage with Graphene Strain Sensors. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:1011-1019. [PMID: 36701648 PMCID: PMC10123914 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Articular cartilage derives its load-bearing strength from the mechanical and physiochemical coupling between the collagen network and negatively charged proteoglycans, respectively. Current disease modeling approaches and treatment strategies primarily focus on cartilage stiffness, partly because indentation tests are readily accessible. However, stiffness measurements via indentation alone cannot discriminate between proteoglycan degradation versus collagen degradation, and there is a lack of methods to monitor physiochemical contributors in full-stack tissue. To decouple these contributions, here, we developed a platform that measures tissue swelling in full-depth equine cartilage explants using piezoresistive graphene strain sensors. These piezoresistive strain sensors are embedded within an elastomer bulk and have sufficient sensitivity to resolve minute, real-time changes in swelling. By relying on simple DC resistance measurements over optical techniques, our platform can analyze multiple samples in parallel. Using these devices, we found that cartilage explants under enzymatic digestion showed distinctive swelling responses to a hypotonic challenge and established average equilibrium swelling strains in healthy cartilage (4.6%), cartilage with proteoglycan loss (0.5%), and in cartilage with both collagen and proteoglycan loss (-2.6%). Combined with histology, we decoupled the pathologic swelling responses as originating either from reduced fixed charge density or from loss of intrinsic stiffness of the collagen matrix in the superficial zone. By providing scalable and in situ monitoring of cartilage swelling, our platform could facilitate regenerative medicine approaches aimed at restoring osmotic function in osteoarthritic cartilage or could be used to validate physiologically relevant swelling behavior in synthetic hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Sundar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Renata Linardi
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Angela Gaesser
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tianzheng Guo
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Kyla Ortved
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julie Engiles
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Justin Parreno
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Charles Dhong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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23
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Schuiringa GH, Pastrama M, Ito K, van Donkelaar CC. Towards a load bearing hydrogel: A proof of principle in the use of osmotic pressure for biomimetic cartilage constructs. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 137:105552. [PMID: 36371992 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Cartilage defects occur frequently and can lead to osteoarthritis. Hydrogels are a promising regenerative strategy for treating such defects, using their ability of mimicking the native extracellular matrix. However, commonly used hydrogels for tissue regeneration are too soft to resist load-bearing in the joint. To overcome this, an implant is being developed in which the mechanical loadbearing function originates from the osmotic pressure generated by the swelling potential of a charged hydrogel, which is restricted from swelling by a textile spacer fabric. This study aims to quantify the relationship between the swelling potential of the hydrogel and the compressive stiffness of the implant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerke H Schuiringa
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Pastrama
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
| | - Keita Ito
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
| | - Corrinus C van Donkelaar
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands.
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24
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Wang C, Kahle ER, Li Q, Han L. Nanomechanics of Aggrecan: A New Perspective on Cartilage Biomechanics, Disease and Regeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1402:69-82. [PMID: 37052847 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-25588-5_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Articular cartilage is a hydrated macromolecular composite mainly composed of type II collagen fibrils and the large proteoglycan, aggrecan. Aggrecan is a key determinant of the load bearing and energy dissipation functions of cartilage. Previously, studies of cartilage biomechanics have been primarily focusing on the macroscopic, tissue-level properties, which failed to elucidate the molecular-level activities that govern cartilage development, function, and disease. This chapter provides a brief summary of Dr. Alan J. Grodzinsky's seminal contribution to the understanding of aggrecan molecular mechanics at the nanoscopic level. By developing and applying a series of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanomechanical tools, Grodzinsky and colleagues revealed the unique structural and mechanical characteristics of aggrecan at unprecedented resolutions. In this body of work, the "bottle-brush"-like ultrastructure of aggrecan was directly visualized for the first time. Meanwhile, molecular mechanics of aggrecan was studied using a physiological-like 2D biomimetic assembly of aggrecan on multiple fronts, including compression, dynamic loading, shear, and adhesion. These studies not only generated new insights into the development, aging, and disease of cartilage, but established a foundation for designing and evaluating novel cartilage regeneration strategies. For example, building on the scientific foundation and methodology infrastructure established by Dr. Grodzinsky, recent studies have elucidated the roles of other proteoglycans in mediating cartilage integrity, such as decorin and perlecan, and evaluated the therapeutic potential of biomimetic proteoglycans in improving cartilage regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Kahle
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qing Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lin Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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25
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Browe DC, Burdis R, Díaz-Payno PJ, Freeman FE, Nulty JM, Buckley CT, Brama PA, Kelly DJ. Promoting endogenous articular cartilage regeneration using extracellular matrix scaffolds. Mater Today Bio 2022; 16:100343. [PMID: 35865410 PMCID: PMC9294195 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Articular cartilage defects fail to heal spontaneously, typically progressing to osteoarthritis. Bone marrow stimulation techniques such as microfracture (MFX) are the current surgical standard of care; however MFX typically produces an inferior fibro-cartilaginous tissue which provides only temporary symptomatic relief. Here we implanted solubilised articular cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) derived scaffolds into critically sized chondral defects in goats, securely anchoring these implants to the joint surface using a 3D-printed fixation device that overcame the need for sutures or glues. In vitro these ECM scaffolds were found to be inherently chondro-inductive, while in vivo they promoted superior articular cartilage regeneration compared to microfracture. In an attempt to further improve the quality of repair, we loaded these scaffolds with a known chemotactic factor, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β3. In vivo such TGF-β3 loaded scaffolds promoted superior articular cartilage regeneration. This study demonstrates that ECM derived biomaterials, either alone and particularly when combined with exogenous growth factors, can successfully treat articular cartilage defects in a clinically relevant large animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Browe
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ross Burdis
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pedro J. Díaz-Payno
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona E. Freeman
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Medicine Division of Engineering in Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jessica M. Nulty
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Conor T. Buckley
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pieter A.J. Brama
- Section of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Daniel J. Kelly
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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26
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O'Connell CD, Duchi S, Onofrillo C, Caballero-Aguilar LM, Trengove A, Doyle SE, Zywicki WJ, Pirogova E, Di Bella C. Within or Without You? A Perspective Comparing In Situ and Ex Situ Tissue Engineering Strategies for Articular Cartilage Repair. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2201305. [PMID: 36541723 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Human articular cartilage has a poor ability to self-repair, meaning small injuries often lead to osteoarthritis, a painful and debilitating condition which is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Existing clinical strategies generally do not regenerate hyaline type cartilage, motivating research toward tissue engineering solutions. Prospective cartilage tissue engineering therapies can be placed into two broad categories: i) Ex situ strategies, where cartilage tissue constructs are engineered in the lab prior to implantation and ii) in situ strategies, where cells and/or a bioscaffold are delivered to the defect site to stimulate chondral repair directly. While commonalities exist between these two approaches, the core point of distinction-whether chondrogenesis primarily occurs "within" or "without" (outside) the body-can dictate many aspects of the treatment. This difference influences decisions around cell selection, the biomaterials formulation and the surgical implantation procedure, the processes of tissue integration and maturation, as well as, the prospects for regulatory clearance and clinical translation. Here, ex situ and in situ cartilage engineering strategies are compared: Highlighting their respective challenges, opportunities, and prospects on their translational pathways toward long term human cartilage repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathal D O'Connell
- Discipline of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.,Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Serena Duchi
- Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.,Department of Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Carmine Onofrillo
- Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.,Department of Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Lilith M Caballero-Aguilar
- Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.,School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, 3122, Australia
| | - Anna Trengove
- Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Stephanie E Doyle
- Discipline of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.,Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - Wiktor J Zywicki
- Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Elena Pirogova
- Discipline of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Claudia Di Bella
- Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD), St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.,Department of Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.,Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
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27
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Masson AO, Besler B, Edwards WB, Krawetz RJ. High spatial resolution analysis using automated indentation mapping differentiates biomechanical properties of normal vs. degenerated articular cartilage in mice. eLife 2022; 11:74664. [PMID: 36444976 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the biomechanical properties of articular cartilage is crucial to understanding processes of tissue homeostasis vs. degeneration. In mouse models, however, limitations are imposed by their small joint size and thin cartilage surfaces. Here we present a three-dimensional (3D) automated surface mapping system and methodology that allows for mechanical characterization of mouse cartilage with high spatial resolution. We performed repeated indentation mappings, followed by cartilage thickness measurement via needle probing, at 31 predefined positions distributed over the medial and lateral femoral condyles of healthy mice. High-resolution 3D x-ray microscopy (XRM) imaging was used to validate tissue thickness measurements. The automated indentation mapping was reproducible, and needle probing yielded cartilage thicknesses comparable to XRM imaging. When comparing healthy vs. degenerated cartilage, topographical variations in biomechanics were identified, with altered thickness and stiffness (instantaneous modulus) across condyles and within anteroposterior sub-regions. This quantitative technique comprehensively characterized cartilage function in mice femoral condyle cartilage. Hence, it has the potential to improve our understanding of tissue structure-function interplay in mouse models of repair and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand O Masson
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Bryce Besler
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - W Brent Edwards
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Roman J Krawetz
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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28
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Chremos A, Douglas JF, Basser PJ, Horkay F. Prestressed Composite Polymer Gels as a Model of the Extracellular-Matrix of Cartilage. Gels 2022; 8:707. [PMID: 36354615 PMCID: PMC9689112 DOI: 10.3390/gels8110707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Articular cartilage is a composite hydrogel found in animal and human joints, which exhibits unique load-bearing properties that have been challenging to reproduce in synthetic materials and model in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We computationally investigate a composite hydrogel that mimics key functional properties of articular cartilage as a potential biomimetic model to investigate its unique load-bearing properties. Specifically, we find that the emergence of prestress in composite gels derives primarily from the stiffness of the polymer matrix and the asymmetry in the enthalpic interactions of the embedded particles and polymer matrix. Our MD simulations of the development of prestress agree qualitatively with osmotic pressure measurements observed in our model composite hydrogel material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Chremos
- Section on Quantitative Imaging and Tissue Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jack F. Douglas
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Peter J. Basser
- Section on Quantitative Imaging and Tissue Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ferenc Horkay
- Section on Quantitative Imaging and Tissue Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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29
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Warren MR, Vedadghavami A, Bhagavatula S, Bajpayee AG. Effects of polycationic drug carriers on the electromechanical and swelling properties of cartilage. Biophys J 2022; 121:3542-3561. [PMID: 35765244 PMCID: PMC9515003 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cationic nanocarriers offer a promising solution to challenges in delivering drugs to negatively charged connective tissues, such as to articular cartilage for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). However, little is known about the effects that cationic macromolecules may have on the mechanical properties of cartilage at high interstitial concentrations. We utilized arginine-rich cationic peptide carriers (CPCs) with varying net charge (from +8 to +20) to investigate the biophysical mechanisms of nanocarrier-induced alterations to cartilage biomechanical properties. We observed that CPCs increased the compressive modulus of healthy bovine cartilage explants by up to 70% and decreased the stiffness of glycosaminoglycan-depleted tissues (modeling OA) by 69%; in both cases, the magnitude of the change in stiffness correlated with the uptake of CPC charge variants. Next, we directly measured CPC-induced osmotic deswelling in cartilage tissue due to shielding of charge repulsions between anionic extracellular matrix constituents, with magnitudes of reductions between 36 and 64 kPa. We then demonstrated that electrostatic interactions were required for CPC-induced stiffening to occur, evidenced by no observed increase in tissue stiffness when measured in hypertonic bathing salinity. We applied a non-ideal Donnan osmotic model (under triphasic theory) to separate bulk modulus measurements into Donnan and non-Donnan components, which further demonstrated the conflicting charge-shielding and matrix-stiffening effects of CPCs. These results show that cationic drug carriers can alter tissue mechanical properties via multiple mechanisms, including the expected charge shielding as well as a novel stiffening phenomenon mediated by physical linkages. We introduce a model for how the magnitudes of these mechanical changes depend on tunable physical properties of the drug carrier, including net charge, size, and spatial charge distribution. We envision that the results and theory presented herein will inform the design of future cationic drug-delivery systems intended to treat diseases in a wide range of connective tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Warren
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Armin Vedadghavami
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sanjana Bhagavatula
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ambika G Bajpayee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
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30
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Liu D, Zhang H, Dong X, Sang L, Qi M. Effect of viscoelastic properties of cellulose nanocrystal/collagen hydrogels on chondrocyte behaviors. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:959409. [PMID: 36032700 PMCID: PMC9403537 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.959409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cartilage tissue engineering technology provides a solution for treating osteoarthritis. Based on the viscoelastic nature of articular cartilage, many viscoelastic hydrogel scaffolds have been developed for investigating the effects on chondrocyte behaviors. However, cellulose nanocrystal/collagen (CNC/COL) hydrogels have not been used as a viscoelastic microenvironment to study chondrocyte growth. Here, we prepared CNC/COL hydrogels with tunable viscoelastic properties and investigated their influences on chondrocyte behaviors. The results showed that CNC and COL within the hydrogels are bonded by hydrogen bonds. The hydrogels had a microporous structure, and the viscoelastic properties were enhanced by increasing the concentration of CNC. Moreover, enhancing the hydrogel viscoelastic properties, including stress relaxation, creep, storage modulus, and loss modulus, promoted the cell shape change, proliferation, and matrix deposition and reduced the IL-1β level. Using a principal component analysis (PCA), stress relaxation was assessed to have the strongest correlation with chondrocytes behaviors, with an authority weight value of 62.547%. More importantly, FAK and YAP were involved in the chondrocytes’ response to the rapid relaxing hydrogel by immunofluorescence staining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donglei Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
- Changchun SinoBiomaterials Co., Ltd., Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Zhang, ; Xufeng Dong,
| | - Xufeng Dong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Zhang, ; Xufeng Dong,
| | - Lin Sang
- School of Automotive Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Min Qi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
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31
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Schuiringa GH, Mihajlovic M, van Donkelaar CC, Vermonden T, Ito K. Creating a Functional Biomimetic Cartilage Implant Using Hydrogels Based on Methacrylated Chondroitin Sulfate and Hyaluronic Acid. Gels 2022; 8:gels8070457. [PMID: 35877542 PMCID: PMC9315485 DOI: 10.3390/gels8070457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The load-bearing function of articular cartilage tissue contrasts with the poor load-bearing capacity of most soft hydrogels used for its regeneration. The present study explores whether a hydrogel based on the methacrylated natural polymers chondroitin sulfate (CSMA) and hyaluronic acid (HAMA), injected into warp-knitted spacer fabrics, could be used to create a biomimetic construct with cartilage-like mechanical properties. The swelling ratio of the combined CSMA/HAMA hydrogels in the first 20 days was higher for hydrogels with a higher CSMA concentration, and these hydrogels also degraded quicker, whereas those with a 1.33 wt% of HAMA were stable for more than 120 days. When confined by a polyamide 6 (PA6) spacer fabric, the volumetric swelling of the combined CSMA/HAMA gels (10 wt%, 6.5 × CSMA:HAMA ratio) was reduced by ~53%. Both the apparent peak and the equilibrium modulus significantly increased in the PA6-restricted constructs compared to the free-swelling hydrogels after 28 days of swelling, and no significant differences in the moduli and time constant compared to native bovine cartilage were observed. Moreover, the cell viability in the CSMA/HAMA PA6 constructs was comparable to that in gelatin–methacrylamide (GelMA) PA6 constructs at one day after polymerization. These results suggest that using a HydroSpacer construct with an extracellular matrix (ECM)-like biopolymer-based hydrogel is a promising approach for mimicking the load-bearing properties of native cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerke H. Schuiringa
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gem-Z 1.106, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands; (G.H.S.); (M.M.); (K.I.)
| | - Marko Mihajlovic
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gem-Z 1.106, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands; (G.H.S.); (M.M.); (K.I.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Science for Life, Utrecht University, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Corrinus C. van Donkelaar
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gem-Z 1.106, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands; (G.H.S.); (M.M.); (K.I.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Tina Vermonden
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Science for Life, Utrecht University, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Keita Ito
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Gem-Z 1.106, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands; (G.H.S.); (M.M.); (K.I.)
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32
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Mairpady A, Mourad AHI, Mozumder MS. Accelerated Discovery of the Polymer Blends for Cartilage Repair through Data-Mining Tools and Machine-Learning Algorithm. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14091802. [PMID: 35566970 PMCID: PMC9104973 DOI: 10.3390/polym14091802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In designing successful cartilage substitutes, the selection of scaffold materials plays a central role, among several other important factors. In an empirical approach, the selection of the most appropriate polymer(s) for cartilage repair is an expensive and time-consuming affair, as traditionally it requires numerous trials. Moreover, it is humanly impossible to go through the huge library of literature available on the potential polymer(s) and to correlate the physical, mechanical, and biological properties that might be suitable for cartilage tissue engineering. Hence, the objective of this study is to implement an inverse design approach to predict the best polymer(s)/blend(s) for cartilage repair by using a machine-learning algorithm (i.e., multinomial logistic regression (MNLR)). Initially, a systematic bibliometric analysis on cartilage repair has been performed by using the bibliometrix package in the R program. Then, the database was created by extracting the mechanical properties of the most frequently used polymers/blends from the PoLyInfo library by using data-mining tools. Then, an MNLR algorithm was run by using the mechanical properties of the polymers, which are similar to the cartilages, as the input and the polymer(s)/blends as the predicted output. The MNLR algorithm used in this study predicts polyethylene/polyethylene-graftpoly(maleic anhydride) blend as the best candidate for cartilage repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusha Mairpady
- Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, UAE University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Abdel-Hamid I. Mourad
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, UAE University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates;
- National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad Sayem Mozumder
- Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, UAE University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates;
- Correspondence:
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33
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Browe DC, Díaz-Payno PJ, Freeman FE, Schipani R, Burdis R, Ahern DP, Nulty JM, Guler S, Randall LD, Buckley CT, Brama PA, Kelly DJ. Bilayered extracellular matrix derived scaffolds with anisotropic pore architecture guide tissue organization during osteochondral defect repair. Acta Biomater 2022; 143:266-281. [PMID: 35278686 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
While some clinical advances in cartilage repair have occurred, osteochondral (OC) defect repair remains a significant challenge, with current scaffold-based approaches failing to recapitulate the complex, hierarchical structure of native articular cartilage (AC). To address this need, we fabricated bilayered extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived scaffolds with aligned pore architectures. By modifying the freeze-drying kinetics and controlling the direction of heat transfer during freezing, it was possible to produce anisotropic scaffolds with larger pores which supported homogenous cellular infiltration and improved sulfated glycosaminoglycan deposition. Neo-tissue organization in vitro could also be controlled by altering scaffold pore architecture, with collagen fibres aligning parallel to the long-axis of the pores within scaffolds containing aligned pore networks. Furthermore, we used in vitro and in vivo assays to demonstrate that AC and bone ECM derived scaffolds could preferentially direct the differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) towards either a chondrogenic or osteogenic lineage respectively, enabling the development of bilayered ECM scaffolds capable of spatially supporting unique tissue phenotypes. Finally, we implanted these scaffolds into a large animal model of OC defect repair. After 6 months in vivo, scaffold implantation was found to improve cartilage matrix deposition, with collagen fibres preferentially aligning parallel to the long axis of the scaffold pores, resulting in a repair tissue that structurally and compositionally was more hyaline-like in nature. These results demonstrate how scaffold architecture and composition can be spatially modulated to direct the regeneration of complex interfaces such as the osteochondral unit, enabling their use as cell-free, off-the-shelf implants for joint regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The architecture of the extracellular matrix, while integral to tissue function, is often neglected in the design and evaluation of regenerative biomaterials. In this study we developed a bilayered scaffold for osteochondral defect repair consisting of tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived biomaterials to spatially direct stem/progenitor cell differentiation, with a tailored pore microarchitecture to promote the development of a repair tissue that recapitulates the hierarchical structure of native AC. The use of this bilayered scaffold resulted in improved tissue repair outcomes in a large animal model, specifically the ability to guide neo-tissue organization and therefore recapitulate key aspects of the zonal structure of native articular cartilage. These bilayer scaffolds have the potential to become a new therapeutic option for osteochondral defect repair.
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Gatti AA, Keir PJ, Noseworthy MD, Maly MR. Investigating acute changes in osteoarthritic cartilage by integrating biomechanics and statistical shape models of bone: data from the osteoarthritis initiative. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS, BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2022; 35:861-873. [PMID: 35286512 PMCID: PMC8919909 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-022-01004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective Methods Results Discussion Supplementary Information
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony A Gatti
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- NeuralSeg Ltd., Hamilton, Canada
| | - Peter J Keir
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Michael D Noseworthy
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Monica R Maly
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
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3D Printing for Cartilage Replacement: A Preliminary Study to Explore New Polymers. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14051044. [PMID: 35267866 PMCID: PMC8914867 DOI: 10.3390/polym14051044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of additive manufacturing technologies for biomedical applications must begin with the knowledge of the material to be used, by envisaging a very specific application rather than a more general aim. In this work, the preliminary study was focused on considering the cartilaginous tissue. This biological tissue exhibits different characteristics, such as thickness and mechanical properties, depending on its specific function in the body. Due to the lack of vascularization, cartilage is a supporting connective tissue with limited capacity for recovery and regeneration. For this reason, any approach, whether to repair/regenerate or as a total replacement, needs to fulfill the adequate mechanical and chemical properties of the surrounding native cartilage to be successful. This work aims to explore the possibility of using new polymers for cartilage total replacement approaches with polymeric materials processed with the specific 3D printing technique of fused filament fabrication (FFF). The materials studied were Nylon® 12 (PA12), already described for this purpose, and LAY-FOMM® 60 (FOMM). FOMM has not been described in the literature for biomedical purposes. Therefore, the chemical, thermal, swelling capacity, and mechanical properties of the filaments were thoroughly characterized to better understand the structure–properties–application relationships of this new polymer. In addition, as the FFF technology is temperature based, the properties were also evaluated in the printed specimens. Due to the envisaged application, the specimens were also characterized in the wet state. When comparing the obtained results with the properties of native cartilage, it was possible to conclude that: (i) PA12 exhibits low swelling capacity, while FOMM, in its dry and wet forms, has a higher swelling capacity, closer to that of native cartilage; (ii) the mechanical properties of the polymeric materials, especially PA12, are higher than those of native cartilage; and (iii) from the mechanical properties evaluated by ultra-micro hardness tests, the values for FOMM indicate that this material could be a good alternative for cartilage replacement in older patients. This preliminary study, essentially devoted to expanding the frontiers of the current state of the art of new polymeric materials, provides valuable indications for future work targeting the envisaged applications.
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Hua X, Li J, De Pieri E, Ferguson SJ. Multiscale biomechanics of the biphasic articular cartilage in the natural hip joint during routine activities. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 215:106606. [PMID: 35016083 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The investigation of the biomechanical behaviour of the articular cartilage (AC) under physiological loading is important to understand the joint function and onset of pathologies. This study aimed to develop a multiscale computational modelling approach and apply the approach to investigate the time-dependant biphasic behaviour of the AC in the natural hip joint under repetitive physiological loading over 80 cycles amongst six routine activities. METHODS A subject-specific musculoskeletal multibody dynamics (MBD) model was developed based on the anthropometry and motion capture data collected for a male subject. A corresponding FE model of the natural hip joint with biphasic AC was created based on the bone geometries exported from the MBD model. A multiscale computational modelling was then developed to couple the MBD model and the FE model and used to investigate the time-dependant biphasic behaviour of the AC under subject-specific physiological loading over 80 cycles amongst six routine activities. RESULTS The results showed that for all the activities considered, the interstitial fluid pressure in the AC supported over 80% of the loading. The maximum values of the peak contact pressure and peak fluid pressure for the whole cycle increased firstly and then remained stable over time from the 1st cycle to the 80th cycle. At these instants, the contact areas were located at the centre region of the AC. By contrast, when the contact area was located at the edge of the AC, these peak pressures were found to increase over time for some of the activities (squat, ascending stairs, descending stairs) but decrease for the other activities (normal walking, standing up, sitting down). CONCLUSION This study for the first time developed a multiscale computational modelling approach to couple a musculoskeletal MBD model of the body and a detailed FE model of the natural hip joint with biphasic AC, which enabled the evaluation of time-dependant biphasic behaviour of the AC under realistic physiological loading conditions. The study may have important implications in biomechanical studies of human cartilage to understand the joint function and biomechanical factors related to joint disease, and to support the development of cartilage substitution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xijin Hua
- Institute for Manufacturing, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Junyan Li
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Enrico De Pieri
- Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; University of Basel Children's Hospital, Laboratory for Movement Analysis, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Rauff A, Timmins LH, Whitaker RT, Weiss JA. A Nonparametric Approach for Estimating Three-Dimensional Fiber Orientation Distribution Functions (ODFs) in Fibrous Materials. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2022; 41:446-455. [PMID: 34559646 PMCID: PMC9052546 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2021.3115716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Many biological tissues contain an underlying fibrous microstructure that is optimized to suit a physiological function. The fiber architecture dictates physical characteristics such as stiffness, diffusivity, and electrical conduction. Abnormal deviations of fiber architecture are often associated with disease. Thus, it is useful to characterize fiber network organization from image data in order to better understand pathological mechanisms. We devised a method to quantify distributions of fiber orientations based on the Fourier transform and the Qball algorithm from diffusion MRI. The Fourier transform was used to decompose images into directional components, while the Qball algorithm efficiently converted the directional data from the frequency domain to the orientation domain. The representation in the orientation domain does not require any particular functional representation, and thus the method is nonparametric. The algorithm was verified to demonstrate its reliability and used on datasets from microscopy to show its applicability. This method increases the ability to extract information of microstructural fiber organization from experimental data that will enhance our understanding of structure-function relationships and enable accurate representation of material anisotropy in biological tissues.
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Mohammadi A, te Moller NCR, Ebrahimi M, Plomp S, Brommer H, van Weeren PR, Mäkelä JTA, Töyräs J, Korhonen RK. Site- and Zone-Dependent Changes in Proteoglycan Content and Biomechanical Properties of Bluntly and Sharply Grooved Equine Articular Cartilage. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1787-1797. [PMID: 35754073 PMCID: PMC9794534 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-02991-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we mapped and quantified changes of proteoglycan (PG) content and biomechanical properties in articular cartilage in which either blunt or sharp grooves had been made, both close to the groove and more remote of it, and at the opposing joint surface (kissing site) in equine carpal joints. In nine adult Shetland ponies, standardized blunt and sharp grooves were surgically made in the radiocarpal and middle carpal joints of a randomly chosen front limb. The contralateral control limb was sham-operated. At 39 weeks after surgery, ponies were euthanized. In 10 regions of interest (ROIs) (six remote from the grooves and four directly around the grooves), PG content as a function of tissue-depth and distance-to-groove was estimated using digital densitometry. Biomechanical properties of the cartilage were evaluated in the six ROIs remote from the grooves. Compared to control joints, whole tissue depth PG loss was found in sites adjacent to sharp and, to a larger extent, blunt grooves. Also, superficial PG loss of the surgically untouched kissing cartilage layers was observed. Significant PG loss was observed up to 300 µm (sharp) and at 500 µm (blunt) from the groove into the surrounding tissue. Equilibrium modulus was lower in grooved cartilage than in controls. Grooves, in particular blunt grooves, gave rise to severe PG loss close to the grooved sites and to mild degeneration more remote from the grooves in both sharply and bluntly grooved cartilage and at the kissing sites, resulting in loss of mechanical strength over the 9-month period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Mohammadi
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Nikae C. R. te Moller
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammadhossein Ebrahimi
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland ,Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Saskia Plomp
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Harold Brommer
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - P. René van Weeren
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Janne T. A. Mäkelä
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Juha Töyräs
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland ,School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia ,Science Service Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Rami K. Korhonen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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McCready E, Easley JT, Risch M, Troyer KL, Johnson JW, Gadomski BC, McGilvray KC, Kisiday JD, Nelson BB. Biomechanical, Morphological, and Biochemical Characteristics of Articular Cartilage of the Ovine Humeral Head. Cartilage 2022; 13:19476035221081465. [PMID: 35225009 PMCID: PMC9137309 DOI: 10.1177/19476035221081465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Shoulder pain is commonly attributed to rotator cuff injury or osteoarthritis. Ovine translational models are used to investigate novel treatments aimed at remedying these conditions to prevent articular cartilage degeneration and subsequent joint degradation. However, topographical properties of articular cartilage in the ovine shoulder are undefined. This study investigates the biomechanical, morphological, and biochemical attributes of healthy ovine humeral head articular cartilage and characterizes topographical variations between surface locations. DESIGN Ten humeral heads were collected from healthy skeletally mature sheep and each was segregated into 4 quadrants using 16 regions of interest (ROIs) across the articular surface. Articular cartilage of each ROI was analyzed for creep indentation, thickness, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) and collagen quantity. Comparisons of each variable were made between quadrants and between ROIs within each quadrant. RESULTS Percent creep, thickness, and sGAG content, but not collagen content, were significantly different between humeral head quadrants. Subregion analysis of the ROIs within each surface quadrant revealed differences in all measured variables within at least one quadrant. Percent creep was correlated with sGAG (r = -0.32, P = 0.0001). Collagen content was correlated with percent creep (r = 0.32, P = 0.0009), sGAG (r = -0.19, P = 0.049), and thickness (r = -0.19, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Topographical variations exist in mechanical, morphologic, and biochemical properties across the articular surface of the ovine humeral head. Recognizing this variability in ovine humeral head cartilage will provide researchers and clinicians with accurate information that could impact study outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin McCready
- Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Jeremiah T. Easley
- Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Makayla Risch
- Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kevin L. Troyer
- Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - James W. Johnson
- Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Benjamin C. Gadomski
- Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kirk C. McGilvray
- Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - John D. Kisiday
- Orthopaedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Brad B. Nelson
- Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Orthopaedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Anisotropic and age-dependent elastic material behavior of the human costal cartilage. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13618. [PMID: 34193931 PMCID: PMC8245550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93176-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared to articular cartilage, the biomechanical properties of costal cartilage have not yet been extensively explored. The research presented addresses this problem by studying for the first time the anisotropic elastic behavior of human costal cartilage. Samples were taken from 12 male and female cadavers and unconfined compression and indentation tests were performed in mediolateral and dorsoventral direction to determine Young’s Moduli EC for compression and Ei5%, Ei10% and Eimax at 5%, 10% and maximum strain for indentation. Furthermore, the crack direction of the unconfined compression samples was determined and histological samples of the cartilage tissue were examined with the picrosirius-polarization staining method. The tests revealed mean Young’s Moduli of EC = 32.9 ± 17.9 MPa (N = 10), Ei5% = 11.1 ± 5.6 MPa (N = 12), Ei10% = 13.3 ± 6.3 MPa (N = 12) and Eimax = 14.6 ± 6.6 MPa (N = 12). We found that the Young’s Moduli in the indentation test are clearly anisotropic with significant higher results in the mediolateral direction (all P = 0.002). In addition, a dependence of the crack direction of the compressed specimens on the load orientation was observed. Those findings were supported by the orientation of the structure of the collagen fibers determined in the histological examination. Also, a significant age-related elastic behavior of human costal cartilage could be shown with the unconfined compression test (P = 0.009) and the indentation test (P = 0.004), but no sex effect could be detected. Those results are helpful in the field of autologous grafts for rhinoplastic surgery and for the refinement of material parameters in Finite Element models e.g., for accident analyses with traumatic impact on the thorax.
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41
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Erickson HP. How Teichoic Acids Could Support a Periplasm in Gram-Positive Bacteria, and Let Cell Division Cheat Turgor Pressure. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:664704. [PMID: 34040598 PMCID: PMC8141598 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.664704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytoplasm of bacteria is maintained at a higher osmolality than the growth medium, which generates a turgor pressure. The cell membrane (CM) cannot support a large turgor, so there are two possibilities for transferring the pressure to the peptidoglycan cell wall (PGW): (1) the CM could be pressed directly against the PGW, or (2) the CM could be separated from the PGW by a periplasmic space that is isoosmotic with the cytoplasm. There is strong evidence for gram-negative bacteria that a periplasm exists and is isoosmotic with the cytoplasm. No comparable studies have been done for gram-positive bacteria. Here I suggest that a periplasmic space is probably essential in order for the periplasmic proteins to function, including especially the PBPs that remodel the peptidoglycan wall. I then present a semi-quantitative analysis of how teichoic acids could support a periplasm that is isoosmotic with the cytoplasm. The fixed anionic charge density of teichoic acids in the periplasm is ∼0.5 M, which would bring in ∼0.5 M Na+ neutralizing ions. This approximately balances the excess osmolality of the cytoplasm that would produce a turgor pressure of 19 atm. The 0.5 M fixed charge density is similar to that of proteoglycans in articular cartilage, suggesting a comparability ability to support pressure. An isoosmotic periplasm would be especially important for cell division, since it would allow CM constriction and PGW synthesis to avoid turgor pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold P Erickson
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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42
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The Biomechanics of Cartilage-An Overview. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11040302. [PMID: 33915881 PMCID: PMC8065530 DOI: 10.3390/life11040302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Articular cartilage (AC) sheathes joint surfaces and minimizes friction in diarthrosis. The resident cell population, chondrocytes, are surrounded by an extracellular matrix and a multitude of proteins, which bestow their unique characteristics. AC is characterized by a zonal composition (superficial (tangential) zone, middle (transitional) zone, deep zone, calcified zone) with different mechanical properties. An overview is given about different testing (load tests) methods as well as different modeling approaches. The widely accepted biomechanical test methods, e.g., the indentation analysis, are summarized and discussed. A description of the biphasic theory is also shown. This is required to understand how interstitial water contributes toward the viscoelastic behavior of AC. Furthermore, a short introduction to a more complex model is given.
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Risch M, Easley JT, McCready EG, Troyer KL, Johnson JW, Gadomski BC, McGilvray KC, Kisiday JD, Nelson BB. Mechanical, biochemical, and morphological topography of ovine knee cartilage. J Orthop Res 2021; 39:780-787. [PMID: 32833239 DOI: 10.1002/jor.24835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The knee is the most common site for translational cartilage research in sheep, though topographic features of articular cartilage across surfaces are unspecified. We aimed to characterize the mechanical, morphological, and biochemical properties of articular cartilage across ovine knee surfaces and document variations between and within surface locations. Regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated across surfaces of 10 healthy ovine knees. Articular cartilage at each ROI was measured for creep indentation, thickness, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen content. Variables were compared between surface locations (trochlea, and lateral [LFC] and medial [MFC] femoral condyles) and between ROIs within each surface location. Correlations between variables were also assessed. Articular surface location had a significant effect on creep (P < .0001), thickness (P < .0001), and collagen (P = .0007), but not GAG (P = .28). Significant differences in percent creep between ROIs were found within the LFC (P < .0001), MFC (P < .0001), and trochlea (P = .0002). Cartilage thickness was different between ROIs within the LFC, MFC, and trochlea (all P < .0001). The LFC (P = .002) and trochlea (P = .01) each had significant differences in GAG between ROIs. Collagen content between ROIs was different within the LFC (P = .0003), MFC (P = .0005), and trochlea (P < .0001). Collagen content was correlated with thickness (r = -.55), percent creep (r = .47), and GAG (r = -.21). Percent creep was correlated with thickness (r = -.64) and GAG (r = -.19). Topographic variations in mechanical, morphological, and biochemical properties exist across knee cartilage surfaces in sheep. Recognition of this variability is important to optimize study protocols and improve accuracy of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makayla Risch
- Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Jeremiah T Easley
- Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Erin G McCready
- Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Kevin L Troyer
- Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.,Woodward, Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - James W Johnson
- Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Benjamin C Gadomski
- Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Kirk C McGilvray
- Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - John D Kisiday
- Orthopaedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Brad B Nelson
- Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.,Orthopaedic Research Center, C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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44
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Amann E, Amirall A, Franco AR, Poh PSP, Sola Dueñas FJ, Fuentes Estévez G, Leonor IB, Reis RL, Griensven M, Balmayor ER. A Graded, Porous Composite of Natural Biopolymers and Octacalcium Phosphate Guides Osteochondral Differentiation of Stem Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001692. [PMID: 33448144 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Lesions involving the osteochondral unit are difficult to treat. Biomimetic scaffolds are previously shown as promising alternative. Such devices often lack multiple functional layers that mimic bone, cartilage, and the interface. In this study, multilayered scaffolds are developed based on the use of natural extracellular matrix (ECM)-like biopolymers. Particular attention is paid to obtain a complex matrix that mimics the native osteochondral transition. Porous, sponge-like chitosan-collagen-octacalcium phosphate (OCP) scaffolds are obtained. Collagen content increases while the amount of OCP particles decreases toward the cartilage layer. The scaffolds are bioactive as a mineral layer is deposited containing hydroxyapatite at the bony side. The scaffolds stimulate proliferation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, but the degree of proliferation depends on the cell seeding density. The scaffolds give rise to a zone-specific gene expression. RUNX2, COL1A1, BGLAP, and SPP1 are upregulated in the bony layer of the scaffold. SOX9 is upregulated concomitant with COL2A1 expression in the cartilage zone. Mineralization in presence of the cells is prominent in the bone area with Ca and P steadily increasing over time. These results are encouraging for the fabrication of biomimetic scaffolds using ECM-like materials and featuring gradients that mimic native tissues and their interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Amann
- Experimental Trauma Surgery Klinikum rechts der Isar Technical University of Munich Munich 81675 Germany
| | - Amisel Amirall
- Biomaterials Center University of Havana Havana 10 400 Cuba
| | - Albina R. Franco
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs‐Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Avepark Barco Guimarães 4805‐017 Portugal
- ICVS/3B's—PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga Guimarães Portugal
| | - Patrina S. P. Poh
- Experimental Trauma Surgery Klinikum rechts der Isar Technical University of Munich Munich 81675 Germany
- Julius Wolff Institute Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin 13353 Berlin Germany
| | | | | | - Isabel B. Leonor
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs‐Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Avepark Barco Guimarães 4805‐017 Portugal
- ICVS/3B's—PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga Guimarães Portugal
| | - Rui L. Reis
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs‐Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Avepark Barco Guimarães 4805‐017 Portugal
- ICVS/3B's—PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga Guimarães Portugal
- The Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine Headquarters at University of Minho Avepark Barco Guimarães 4805‐017 Portugal
| | - Martijn Griensven
- Experimental Trauma Surgery Klinikum rechts der Isar Technical University of Munich Munich 81675 Germany
- Department of Cell Biology‐Inspired Tissue Engineering MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative Medicine Maastricht University Maastricht 6229 ER The Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth R. Balmayor
- Experimental Trauma Surgery Klinikum rechts der Isar Technical University of Munich Munich 81675 Germany
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering MERLN Institute for Technology‐Inspired Regenerative Medicine Maastricht University Maastricht 6229 ER The Netherlands
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Zhu C, Teng Y, Xie G, Li P, Qian Y, Niu B, Liu P, Chen W, Kong XY, Jiang L, Wen L. Bioinspired hydrogel-based nanofluidic ionic diodes: nano-confined network tuning and ion transport regulation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 56:8123-8126. [PMID: 32691786 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc01313g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Biological ion channel-based mass transport and signal transduction play a crucial role in physiological activities, and biomimetic nanochannels in aqueous solutions for ion transport regulation have been extensively studied. Few studies on non-aqueous systems, gel-based nanochannels, mainly focus on the charged gel network or embedded electrolytes. However, the basic issue of how a nanoscale gel network affects the ion transport in nanochannels has been neglected. Here, we demonstrate a non-aqueous biomimetic nanochannel system by employing the agarose hydrogel in conical nanochannels. To tune the hydrogel network by adjusting the gel concentration, the ion transport behavior in gel-based nanochannels is systemically investigated. The experimental results show that the ion transport behaviors in gel-nanochannels with 2% gel present similar ion selectivity and rectification performance to the aqueous system, indicating fast investigation of gel-based systems with the knowledge of the extensively studied aqueous systems. Furthermore, a gel-based solid-state diode and logic circuits were fabricated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. and School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yunfei Teng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. and School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Ganhua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.
| | - Pei Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.
| | - Yongchao Qian
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.
| | - Bo Niu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. and School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Pei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. and School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Weipeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.
| | - Xiang-Yu Kong
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.
| | - Lei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. and School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Liping Wen
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. and School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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46
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Numerical Investigation of the Effects of Bucket Handle Tears and Subtotal Medial Meniscectomies on the Biomechanical Response of Human Knee Joints. JOURNAL OF BIOMIMETICS BIOMATERIALS AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/jbbbe.49.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the complex biomechanical behaviour of the injured and meniscectomised knee joints is of utmost significance in various clinical circumstances. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of bucket handle tears in the medial meniscus and subtotal medial meniscectomies on the biomechanical response of the knee joints belonging to multiple subjects. The three-dimensional (3D) finite element models of human knee joints including bones, cartilages, menisci, ligaments and tendons are developed from magnetic resonance images (MRI) of multiple healthy subjects. The knee joints are subjected to an axial compressive force, which corresponds to the force of the gait cycle for the full extension position of the knee joint. Three different conditions are compared: intact knee joints, knee joints with bucket handle tears in the medial meniscus and knee joints after subtotal meniscectomies. The bucket handle tear causes a considerable rise in the maximum principal stress at its tip compared to that at the same location in the intact meniscus. This would cause the total rupture of the meniscus resulting in cartilage damage. Subtotal meniscectomy causes a considerable reduction in the contact area along with a substantial increase in the contact pressure and maximum compressive stress in the cartilages in comparison with that in the intact knee. This could give rise to severe degenerative changes in the cartilage. The results of this study could help surgeons in making clinical decisions when managing patients with meniscal injuries.
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Trengove A, Di Bella C, O'Connor AJ. The Challenge of Cartilage Integration: Understanding a Major Barrier to Chondral Repair. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART B-REVIEWS 2021; 28:114-128. [PMID: 33307976 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2020.0244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Articular cartilage defects caused by injury frequently lead to osteoarthritis, a painful and costly disease. Despite widely used surgical methods to treat articular cartilage defects and a plethora of research into regenerative strategies as treatments, long-term clinical outcomes are not satisfactory. Failure to integrate repair tissue with native cartilage is a recurring issue in surgical and tissue-engineered strategies, seeing eventual degradation of the regenerated or surrounding tissue. This review delves into the current understanding of why continuous and robust integration with native cartilage is so difficult to achieve. Both the intrinsic limitations of chondrocytes to remodel injured cartilage, and the significant challenges posed by a compromised biomechanical environment are described. Recent scaffold and cell-based techniques to repair cartilage are also discussed, and limitations of existing methods to evaluate integrative repair. In particular, the importance of evaluating the mechanical integrity of the interface between native and repair tissue is highlighted as a meaningful assessment of any strategy to repair this load-bearing tissue. Impact statement The failure to integrate grafts or biomaterials with native cartilage is a major barrier to cartilage repair. An in-depth understanding of the reasons cartilage integration remains a challenge is required to inform cartilage repair strategies. In particular, this review highlights that integration of cartilage repair strategies is frequently assessed in terms of the continuity of tissue, but not the mechanical integrity. Given the load-bearing nature of cartilage, evaluating integration in terms of interfacial strength is essential to assessing the potential success of cartilage repair methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Trengove
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Claudia Di Bella
- Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Orthopedics, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrea J O'Connor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Salinas EY, Aryaei A, Paschos N, Berson E, Kwon H, Hu JC, Athanasiou KA. Shear stress induced by fluid flow produces improvements in tissue-engineered cartilage. Biofabrication 2020; 12:045010. [PMID: 32640430 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/aba412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Tissue engineering aims to create implantable biomaterials for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. In vitro tissue engineering is generally based on static culture, which limits access to nutrients and lacks mechanical signaling. Using shear stress is controversial because in some cases it can lead to cell death while in others it promotes tissue regeneration. To understand how shear stress works and how it may be used to improve neotissue function, a series of studies were performed. First, a tunable device was designed to determine optimal levels of shear stress for neotissue formation. Then, computational fluid dynamics modeling showed the device applies fluid-induced shear (FIS) stress spanning three orders of magnitude on tissue-engineered cartilage (neocartilage). A beneficial window of FIS stress was subsequently identified, resulting in up to 3.6-fold improvements in mechanical properties of neocartilage in vitro. In vivo, neocartilage matured as evidenced by the doubling of collagen content toward native values. Translation of FIS stress to human derived neocartilage was then demonstrated, yielding analogous improvements in mechanical properties, such as 168% increase in tensile modulus. To gain an understanding of the beneficial roles of FIS stress, a mechanistic study was performed revealing a mechanically gated complex on the primary cilia of chondrocytes that is activated by FIS stress. This series of studies places FIS stress into the arena as a meaningful mechanical stimulation strategy for creating robust and translatable neotissues, and demonstrates the ease of incorporating FIS stress in tissue culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Y Salinas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, 3131 Engineering Hall, Irvine, CA, 92697, United States of America. Authors contributed equally to this work
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49
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A comprehensive testing protocol for macro-scale mechanical characterization of knee articular cartilage with documented experimental repeatability. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; 112:104025. [PMID: 32841833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Articular cartilage mechanics has been extensively studied with various approaches and mechanical characterization strategies. However testing protocols can be highly varying and difficult to reproduce, particularly for specimen-specific analyses. Detailed knowledge of testing protocols is important for reliable use in concordant finite element analyses. This study presents a detailed, robust procedure for cartilage testing-with multiple regions and per sample repeatability data. Samples were taken from femur, tibia and patella of a human cadaver knee and tested in unconfined compression, confined compression and uniaxial tension. Each test was repeated three times. The testing protocols provide elastic and time dependent characterization data. Results, for example equilibrium modulus of 0.28 (0.0024) MPa for patella under unconfined compression indicate that variability is well controlled and that protocol(s) presented here can generate repeatable specimen-specific data. As per the authors' knowledge this is the first study to report in-depth uncertainty assessment of the experimental procedures for multi-region knee cartilage characterization.
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50
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Ebrahimi M, Turunen MJ, Finnilä MA, Joukainen A, Kröger H, Saarakkala S, Korhonen RK, Tanska P. Structure-Function Relationships of Healthy and Osteoarthritic Human Tibial Cartilage: Experimental and Numerical Investigation. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 48:2887-2900. [PMID: 32648191 PMCID: PMC7723942 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02559-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Relationships between composition, structure and constituent-specific functional properties of human articular cartilage at different stages of osteoarthritis (OA) are poorly known. We established these relationships by comparison of elastic, viscoelastic and fibril-reinforced poroelastic mechanical properties with microscopic and spectroscopic analysis of structure and composition of healthy and osteoarthritic human tibial cartilage (n = 27). At a low frequency (0.005 Hz), proteoglycan content correlated negatively and collagen content correlated positively with the phase difference (i.e. tissue viscosity). At a high-frequency regime (> 0.05 Hz), proteoglycan content correlated negatively and collagen orientation angle correlated positively with the phase difference. Proteoglycans were lost in the early and advanced OA groups compared to the healthy group, while the superficial collagen orientation angle was greater only in the advanced OA group compared to the healthy group. Simultaneously, the initial fibril network modulus (fibril pretension) was smaller in the early and advanced OA groups compared to the healthy group. These findings suggest different mechanisms contribute to cartilage viscosity in low and high frequencies, and that the loss of superficial collagen pretension during early OA is due to lower tissue swelling (PG loss), while in advanced OA, both collagen disorganization and lower swelling modulate the collagen fibril pretension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadhossein Ebrahimi
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Mikael J Turunen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
- SIBlabs, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mikko A Finnilä
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | | | - Simo Saarakkala
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Rami K Korhonen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Petri Tanska
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
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