Human articular cartilage is orthotropic where microstructure, micromechanics, and chemistry vary with depth and split-line orientation.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Quantitative, micrometer length scale assessment of human articular cartilage is essential to enable progress toward new functional tissue engineering approaches, including utilization of emerging 3D bioprinting technologies, and for improved computational modeling of the osteochondral unit. Thus the objective of this study was to characterize the structural organization, material properties, and chemical composition of human skeletally mature articular cartilage with respect to depth and defined morphological features: normal to the articulating surface, parallel to the split-line, and transverse to the split-line.

Method

Three samples from the lateral femoral condyles of 4 healthy adult donors (55-61 years old) were evaluated via histology, second harmonic genera

SUBMITTER: Fischenich KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7697147 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature