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With increasing interest in treating osteoarthritis at its earliest stages, it has become important to understand the mechanisms by which the disease progresses across a joint. Here, second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, coupled with a two-dimensional spring-mass network model, was used to image and investigate the collagen meshwork architecture at the cartilage surface surrounding osteoarthritic lesions. We found that minor weakening of the collagen meshwork leads to the bundling of fibrils at the surface under normal loading. This bundling appears to be an irreversible step in the degradation process, as the stress concentrations drive the progression of damage, forming larger bundles and cracks that eventually form lesions.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jmbbm.2011.08.004

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater

Publication Date

01/2012

Volume

5

Pages

62 - 70

Keywords

Animals, Cartilage, Cattle, Collagen, Disease Progression, Microscopy, Optical Phenomena, Osteoarthritis, Surface Properties