Hyperelastic characterization reveals proteoglycans drive the nanoscale strain-stiffening response in hyaline cartilage.

ABSTRACT: Degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) result in deterioration of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) components, significantly compromising tissue function. For measurement of mechanical properties at micron resolution, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a leading technique in biomaterials research, including in the study of OA. It is common practice to determine material properties by applying classical Hertzian contact theory to AFM data. However, errors are consequential because the application of a linear elastic contact model to tissue ignores the fact that soft materials exhibit nonlinear properties even at small strains, influencing the biological conclusions of clinically-relevant studies. Additionally, nonlinear material properties are not well characterized, limiting p

SUBMITTER: McCreery KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9922104 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature