Nanostiffness of collagen fibrils extracted from osteoarthritic cartilage characterized with AFM nanoindentation

B. Tang, M. K. Fong, Chunyi Wen, C. H. Yan, D. Chan, A. H.W. Ngan, K. Y. Chiu, W. W. Lu

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and deliberating joint disorder, which acts as the leading cause for the disability and poor quality of life of the middle-age and elderly people. It is generally believed that OA is degeneration of articular cartilage. However, the debate remains on the role of subchondral bone in pathogenesis of OA. In this study, the nanostiffness of collagen fibrils from articular cartilage in patients with entirely different bone metabolism, that is, OA, osteoporosis (OP), and health, was quantitatively measured with AFM nanoindentation technique. It was found that the stiffness of individual collagen fibril from healthy cartilage was 2.67 ± 0.12GPa under ambient condition and 11.24 ± 0.74MPa in hydrated state respectively. The collagen fibrils were softer in osteoporosis (OP) group (ambient: 1.64 ± 0.12GPa; hydrated: 8.59 ± 0.59MPa). By contrast, the extracted fibrils from OA cartilages were stiffer (ambient: 4.65 ± 0.25GPa; hydrated: 17.26 ± 1.77MPa). The results obtained demonstrated that the collagen fibrils extracted from OA patients are stiffer than those from healthy patients, and therefore the nanomechanical characterization of extracted collagen fibrils may be a promising way for early diagnosis of OA.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)253-261
Number of pages9
JournalSoft Materials
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Articular cartilage
  • Atomic force microscopy
  • Collagen fibril
  • Nanoindentation
  • Stiffness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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