Effects of Enzymatic Degradation and Supplementation of Chrondroitin Sulfate on the Frictional Properties of Articular Cartilage

The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the role of extracellular matrix components on the mechanism of load support and frictional response of articular cartilage, more specifically through the use of enzymatic degradation and supplementation of chondroitin sulfate. Several experiments were performed in order to investigate: (1) how the mechanism of fluid load support and the time-dependent friction coefficient are affected by enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix; and (2) if chondroitin sulfate can reduce the friction coefficient of articular cartilage.

The interstitial fluid plays a fundamental role in the load support mechanism in cartilage, supporting the majority of the applied load and therefore protecting the solid matrix from excessive deformation Collagenase and chondroitinase ABC were used to selectively degrade the collagen matrix and the proteoglycans and investigate the effect on the fluid load support. Results confirmed that the peak fluid load support in unconfined compression decreases significantly after enzymatic degradation. The transient response of the friction coefficient is negatively correlated with the interstitial fluid load support. Proteoglycan removal after chondroitinase ABC digestion caused a significant increase in the time-dependent friction coefficient as the result of a decrease in the fluid load support. Chondroitin sulfate is the major component of the proteoglycans found in articular cartilage. Experimental results showed that supplementation of chondroitin sulfate can significantly reduce the friction coefficient of articular cartilage, suggesting that it could be injected directly into the joint to improve the tribological function.

The results from this dissertation have provided a greater understanding into the frictional properties of articular cartilage and have shown that maintaining the integrity extracellular matrix is fundamental for the proper functioning of the joint. Future studies will investigate whether chondroitin sulfate is a suitable therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Year	Entry
1991	Ateshian G, Soslowsky L, Mow V. Quantitation of articular surface topography and cartilage thickness in knee joints using stereophotogrammetry. J Biomech. January 1991;24(8):761-776.
1967	Stegemann H, Stalder K. Determination of hydroxyproline. Clin Chim Acta. November 1, 1967;18(2):267.
2001	Huang C-Y, Mow VC, Ateshian GA. The role of flow-independent viscoelasticity in the biphasic tensile and compressive responses of articular cartilage. J Biomech Eng. October 2001;123(5):410-417.
2003	Huang C-Y, Soltz MA, Kopacz M, Mow VC, Ateshian GA. Experimental verification of the roles of intrinsic matrix viscoelasticity and tension-compression nonlinearity in the biphasic response of cartilage. J Biomech Eng. February 2003;125(1):84-93.
1994	Ateshian GA, Lai WM, Zhu WB, Mow VC. An asymptotic solution for the contact of two biphasic cartilage layers. J Biomech. November 1994;27(11):1347-1360.
1995	Ateshian GA, Wang H. A theoretical solution for the frictionless rolling contact of cylindrical biphasic articular cartilage layers. J Biomech. November 1995;28(11):1341-1355.
2004	Chahine NO, Wang CC-B, Hung CT, Ateshian GA. Anisotropic strain-dependent material properties of bovine articular cartilage in the transitional range from tension to compression. J Biomech. August 2004;37(8):1251-1261.
1998	Ateshian GA, Wang H, Lai WM. The role of interstitial fluid pressurization and surface porosities on the boundary friction of articular cartilage. J Tribol. April 1998;120(2):241-248.
1991	Suh J-K, Spilker RL, Holmes MH. A penalty finite element analysis for nonlinear mechanics of biphasic hydrated soft tissue under large deformation. Int J Num Meth Eng. November 1991;32(7):1411-1439.
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Year

Entry

1991

Ateshian G, Soslowsky L, Mow V. Quantitation of articular surface topography and cartilage thickness in knee joints using stereophotogrammetry. J Biomech. January 1991;24(8):761-776.

1967

Stegemann H, Stalder K. Determination of hydroxyproline. Clin Chim Acta. November 1, 1967;18(2):267.

2001

Huang C-Y, Mow VC, Ateshian GA. The role of flow-independent viscoelasticity in the biphasic tensile and compressive responses of articular cartilage. J Biomech Eng. October 2001;123(5):410-417.

2003

Huang C-Y, Soltz MA, Kopacz M, Mow VC, Ateshian GA. Experimental verification of the roles of intrinsic matrix viscoelasticity and tension-compression nonlinearity in the biphasic response of cartilage. J Biomech Eng. February 2003;125(1):84-93.

1994

Ateshian GA, Lai WM, Zhu WB, Mow VC. An asymptotic solution for the contact of two biphasic cartilage layers. J Biomech. November 1994;27(11):1347-1360.