A needle micro-osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissue
Purpose: Aggrecan is one of the major macromolecular components of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and its loss is an early sign of degeneration. Restoration of aggrecan, and hence of biomechanical properties, is a major objective of biological therapies. At present, assessment of aggrecan concentrati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2013
|
| _version_ | 1797093992995749888 |
|---|---|
| author | Sivan, S Merkher, Y Wachtel, E Urban, J Lazary, A Maroudas, A |
| author_facet | Sivan, S Merkher, Y Wachtel, E Urban, J Lazary, A Maroudas, A |
| author_sort | Sivan, S |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Purpose: Aggrecan is one of the major macromolecular components of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and its loss is an early sign of degeneration. Restoration of aggrecan, and hence of biomechanical properties, is a major objective of biological therapies. At present, assessment of aggrecan concentration via its glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content is accomplished using biochemical and histological methods which require sacrifice of tissue. A minimally invasive method for assessing GAG, and hence aggrecan, which can avoid destruction of tissue, would be of benefit. Methods: We have developed a needle micro-osmometer that is capable of measuring flux of saline into excised human nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue. Using the isotropic osmotic stress technique to assess the swelling pressure of the excised NP tissue and assuming negligible collagen tensile stress, we were able to relate the flux to the tissue fixed charge density (FCD). GAG concentration is evaluated from its FCD via the radioactive tracer technique. Samples representing different ages (28-59 years) and degeneration grades (1-4) were analyzed. Results: The flux is controlled by both the osmotic pressure difference across the probe's semi-permeable membrane and by the tissue permeability. A linear correlation was found between flux and the tissue FCD. The equation describing the linear fit is FCD/(total tissue hydration) = 1.97 × 10-4 + 8283 × flux (R = 0.836, p < 10-4). Thus, by measuring saline flux, the concentration of GAG can be determined. Conclusions: Micro-osmometry provides a reliable and minimally invasive tool for assessing GAG content in excised NP tissue. This method may be usefully applied in tissue engineering applications. It may also be useful for in vivo measurements if the question of the degenerative effect of needle puncture can be overcome. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T04:08:01Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:c6e11c90-6f3a-4011-9fad-b2a87d11268a |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T04:08:01Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:c6e11c90-6f3a-4011-9fad-b2a87d11268a2022-03-27T06:41:00ZA needle micro-osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissueJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:c6e11c90-6f3a-4011-9fad-b2a87d11268aEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2013Sivan, SMerkher, YWachtel, EUrban, JLazary, AMaroudas, APurpose: Aggrecan is one of the major macromolecular components of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and its loss is an early sign of degeneration. Restoration of aggrecan, and hence of biomechanical properties, is a major objective of biological therapies. At present, assessment of aggrecan concentration via its glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content is accomplished using biochemical and histological methods which require sacrifice of tissue. A minimally invasive method for assessing GAG, and hence aggrecan, which can avoid destruction of tissue, would be of benefit. Methods: We have developed a needle micro-osmometer that is capable of measuring flux of saline into excised human nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue. Using the isotropic osmotic stress technique to assess the swelling pressure of the excised NP tissue and assuming negligible collagen tensile stress, we were able to relate the flux to the tissue fixed charge density (FCD). GAG concentration is evaluated from its FCD via the radioactive tracer technique. Samples representing different ages (28-59 years) and degeneration grades (1-4) were analyzed. Results: The flux is controlled by both the osmotic pressure difference across the probe's semi-permeable membrane and by the tissue permeability. A linear correlation was found between flux and the tissue FCD. The equation describing the linear fit is FCD/(total tissue hydration) = 1.97 × 10-4 + 8283 × flux (R = 0.836, p < 10-4). Thus, by measuring saline flux, the concentration of GAG can be determined. Conclusions: Micro-osmometry provides a reliable and minimally invasive tool for assessing GAG content in excised NP tissue. This method may be usefully applied in tissue engineering applications. It may also be useful for in vivo measurements if the question of the degenerative effect of needle puncture can be overcome. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. |
| spellingShingle | Sivan, S Merkher, Y Wachtel, E Urban, J Lazary, A Maroudas, A A needle micro-osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissue |
| title | A needle micro-osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissue |
| title_full | A needle micro-osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissue |
| title_fullStr | A needle micro-osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissue |
| title_full_unstemmed | A needle micro-osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissue |
| title_short | A needle micro-osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissue |
| title_sort | needle micro osmometer for determination of glycosaminoglycan concentration in excised nucleus pulposus tissue |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sivans aneedlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT merkhery aneedlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT wachtele aneedlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT urbanj aneedlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT lazarya aneedlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT maroudasa aneedlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT sivans needlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT merkhery needlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT wachtele needlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT urbanj needlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT lazarya needlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue AT maroudasa needlemicroosmometerfordeterminationofglycosaminoglycanconcentrationinexcisednucleuspulposustissue |