Biomechanical mappings provide new insights into cartilage degeneration Spatial biomechanical mappings of whole joint surfaces enable a complementary investigation of the mechanical properties of cartilage and meniscal tissue. Seitz et al. recently characterized the biomechanical properties of mildly and severely degenerated human knee joints, including their menisci and tibial and femoral articular cartilage surfaces. The results of this study indicate that degeneration-related (bio-) mechanical changes seem likely to be first detectable in the menisci before the articular knee joint cartilage is affected. Should these findings be further reinforced by structural and imaging analyses, the treatment of osteoarthritis might be modified [1].
Representative biomechanical mappings of the instantaneous modulus (IM) measurements of mildly and severely degenerated menisci, with all values given in megapascal [1].
Regarding cartilage regeneration, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between the cartilage and biomaterial-based matrices for chondral repair is of considerable interest. In the RESTORE project, BM are used to demonstrate and validate the efficacy of the COPLA® scaffold as a cartilage repair material. After implantation in a small animal study, the biomechanical properties of the COPLA® scaffold and articular cartilage are investigated using the multiaxial testing machine of Biomomentum: MACH-1 (Biomomentum Inc., Canada).
[1] Seitz, A. M., Osthaus, F., Schwer, J., Warnecke, D., Faschingbauer, M., Sgroi, M., Ignatius, A., & Dürselen, L. (2021). Osteoarthritis-Related Degeneration Alters the Biomechanical Properties of Human Menisci Before the Articular Cartilage. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 9, 659989. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2021.659989
