Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interface
Abstract Background Despite it being known that subchondral bone affects the viscoelasticity of cartilage, there has been little research into the mechanical properties of osteochondral tissue as a whole system. This study aims to unearth new knowledge concerning the dynamic behaviour of human subch...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2959-4 |
| _version_ | 1818827017061138432 |
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| author | Sophie E. Mountcastle Piers Allen Ben O. L. Mellors Bernard M. Lawless Megan E. Cooke Carolina E. Lavecchia Natasha L. A. Fell Daniel M. Espino Simon W. Jones Sophie C. Cox |
| author_facet | Sophie E. Mountcastle Piers Allen Ben O. L. Mellors Bernard M. Lawless Megan E. Cooke Carolina E. Lavecchia Natasha L. A. Fell Daniel M. Espino Simon W. Jones Sophie C. Cox |
| author_sort | Sophie E. Mountcastle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Despite it being known that subchondral bone affects the viscoelasticity of cartilage, there has been little research into the mechanical properties of osteochondral tissue as a whole system. This study aims to unearth new knowledge concerning the dynamic behaviour of human subchondral bone and how energy is transferred through the cartilage-bone interface. Methods Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to determine the frequency-dependent (1–90 Hz) viscoelastic properties of the osteochondral unit (cartilage-bone system) as well as isolated cartilage and bone specimens extracted from human femoral heads obtained from patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery, with a mean age of 78 years (N = 5, n = 22). Bone mineral density (BMD) was also determined for samples using micro-computed tomography as a marker of tissue health. Results Cartilage storage and loss moduli along with bone storage modulus were found to increase logarithmically (p < 0.05) with frequency. The mean cartilage storage modulus was 34.4 ± 3.35 MPa and loss modulus was 6.17 ± 0.48 MPa (mean ± standard deviation). In contrast, bone loss modulus decreased logarithmically between 1 and 90 Hz (p < 0.05). The storage stiffness of the cartilage-bone-core was found to be frequency-dependent with a mean value of 1016 ± 54.0 N.mm− 1, while the loss stiffness was determined to be frequency-independent at 78.84 ± 2.48 N.mm− 1. Notably, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) linear correlation was found between the total energy dissipated from the isolated cartilage specimens, and the BMD of the isolated bone specimens at all frequencies except at 90 Hz (p = 0.09). Conclusions The viscoelastic properties of the cartilage-bone core were significantly different to the tissues in isolation (p < 0.05). Results from this study demonstrate that the functionality of these tissues arises because they operate as a unit. This is evidenced through the link between cartilage energy dissipated and bone BMD. The results may provide insights into the functionality of the osteochondral unit, which may offer further understanding of disease progression, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Furthermore, the results emphasise the importance of studying human tissue, as bovine models do not always display the same trends. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:36:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d93a056d381844c5a3ae14426a7378b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2474 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:36:52Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-d93a056d381844c5a3ae14426a7378b42022-12-21T20:44:46ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742019-11-0120111310.1186/s12891-019-2959-4Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interfaceSophie E. Mountcastle0Piers Allen1Ben O. L. Mellors2Bernard M. Lawless3Megan E. Cooke4Carolina E. Lavecchia5Natasha L. A. Fell6Daniel M. Espino7Simon W. Jones8Sophie C. Cox9EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Physical Sciences for Health, University of BirminghamEPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Physical Sciences for Health, University of BirminghamEPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Physical Sciences for Health, University of BirminghamDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of BirminghamEPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Physical Sciences for Health, University of BirminghamDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of BirminghamDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of BirminghamDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of BirminghamCentre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of BirminghamSchool of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of BirminghamAbstract Background Despite it being known that subchondral bone affects the viscoelasticity of cartilage, there has been little research into the mechanical properties of osteochondral tissue as a whole system. This study aims to unearth new knowledge concerning the dynamic behaviour of human subchondral bone and how energy is transferred through the cartilage-bone interface. Methods Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to determine the frequency-dependent (1–90 Hz) viscoelastic properties of the osteochondral unit (cartilage-bone system) as well as isolated cartilage and bone specimens extracted from human femoral heads obtained from patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery, with a mean age of 78 years (N = 5, n = 22). Bone mineral density (BMD) was also determined for samples using micro-computed tomography as a marker of tissue health. Results Cartilage storage and loss moduli along with bone storage modulus were found to increase logarithmically (p < 0.05) with frequency. The mean cartilage storage modulus was 34.4 ± 3.35 MPa and loss modulus was 6.17 ± 0.48 MPa (mean ± standard deviation). In contrast, bone loss modulus decreased logarithmically between 1 and 90 Hz (p < 0.05). The storage stiffness of the cartilage-bone-core was found to be frequency-dependent with a mean value of 1016 ± 54.0 N.mm− 1, while the loss stiffness was determined to be frequency-independent at 78.84 ± 2.48 N.mm− 1. Notably, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) linear correlation was found between the total energy dissipated from the isolated cartilage specimens, and the BMD of the isolated bone specimens at all frequencies except at 90 Hz (p = 0.09). Conclusions The viscoelastic properties of the cartilage-bone core were significantly different to the tissues in isolation (p < 0.05). Results from this study demonstrate that the functionality of these tissues arises because they operate as a unit. This is evidenced through the link between cartilage energy dissipated and bone BMD. The results may provide insights into the functionality of the osteochondral unit, which may offer further understanding of disease progression, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Furthermore, the results emphasise the importance of studying human tissue, as bovine models do not always display the same trends.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2959-4Articular cartilageDynamic mechanical analysisOsteoarthritisSubchondral boneViscoelasticity |
| spellingShingle | Sophie E. Mountcastle Piers Allen Ben O. L. Mellors Bernard M. Lawless Megan E. Cooke Carolina E. Lavecchia Natasha L. A. Fell Daniel M. Espino Simon W. Jones Sophie C. Cox Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interface BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Articular cartilage Dynamic mechanical analysis Osteoarthritis Subchondral bone Viscoelasticity |
| title | Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interface |
| title_full | Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interface |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interface |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interface |
| title_short | Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interface |
| title_sort | dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue understanding the effect of the cartilage bone interface |
| topic | Articular cartilage Dynamic mechanical analysis Osteoarthritis Subchondral bone Viscoelasticity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2959-4 |
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