The effect of dynamic shear force on chondrocyte biosynthesis in agarose gels

The dense extracellular matrix (ECM) within the articular cartilage derives its compressive modulus from the electrostatic and osmotic interactions between highly charged glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains. Furthermore, the structural integrity of the ECM comes from the tightly interwoven collagen network, which accounts for the tensile and shear stiffness of the cartilage. Due to the avascular, aneural, and alymphatic nature of cartilage, its native cells (chondrocytes) have limited regeneration capabilities after injury. Previous investigators discovered that dynamic compressive loading can increase cell biosynthesis in cartilage explants as well as in hydrogels such as agarose and self-assembling peptides. Also, recent research has revealed that biosynthesis in cartilage explants can be increased by dynamic tissue shear loading as well. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether dynamic tissue shear loading could affect chondrocyte biosynthesis in agarose gels. Chondrocytes from 1-2 week old bovine knee cartilage were seeded into 3% agarose gel slabs, and 2-mm thick by 4-mm diameter cylindrical disks were cored from these gels. Groups of disks were maintained in free swelling control culture, or subjected to 5% static compression control, or 3% sinusoidal shear strain (0.1 Hz) superimposed on a 5% static compressive offset.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Chen, Shuodan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alan J. Grodzinsky.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34678

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/34678