Dataset Information

In vivo tibiofemoral cartilage strain mapping under static mechanical loading using continuous GRASP-MRI.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Quantification of dynamic biomechanical strain in articular cartilage in vivo; in situ using noninvasive MRI techniques is desirable and may potentially be used to assess joint pathology.

Purpose

To demonstrate the use of static mechanical loading and continuous 3D-MRI acquisition of the human knee joint in vivo to measure the strain in the tibiofemoral articular cartilage.

Study type

Prospective.

Subjects

Five healthy human volunteers (four women, one man; age 25.6?±?1.7) underwent MRI at rest, under static mechanical loading condition, and during recovery.

Field strength/sequence

A field strength of 3T was used. The sequence used was 3D-continuous golden angle radial sparse parallel (GRASP) MRI and compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction.

Assessment

Tibiofemoral cartilage deformation maps under loading and during recovery were calculated using an optical flow algorithm. The corresponding Lagrangian strain was calculated in the articular cartilage.

Statistical tests

Range of displacement and strain in each subject, and the resulting mean and standard deviation, were calculated.

Results

During the loading condition, the cartilage displacement in the direction of loading ranged from a minimum of -673.6?±?121.9 ?m to a maximum of 726.5?±?169.5 ?m. Corresponding strain ranged from a minimum of -7.0?±?4.2% to a maximum of 5.4?±?1.6%. During the recovery condition, the cartilage displacement in the same direction reduced to a minimum of -613.0?±?129.5 ?m and a maximum of 555.7?±?311.4 ?m. The corresponding strain range reduced to a minimum of -1.6?±?7.5% to a maximum of 4.2?±?2.6%.

Data conclusion

This study shows the feasibility of using static mechanical loading with continuous GRASP-MRI acquisition to measure the strain in the articular cartilage. By measuring strain during the loading and recovery phases, dynamic strain information in the articular cartilage might be able to be investigated.

Level of evidence

2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:426-434.

SUBMITTER: Menon RG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6944772 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

In vivo tibiofemoral cartilage strain mapping under static mechanical loading using continuous GRASP-MRI.

Menon Rajiv G RG Zibetti Marcelo V W MVW Regatte Ravinder R RR

Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI 20190707 2

<h4>Background</h4>Quantification of dynamic biomechanical strain in articular cartilage in vivo; in situ using noninvasive MRI techniques is desirable and may potentially be used to assess joint pathology.<h4>Purpose</h4>To demonstrate the use of static mechanical loading and continuous 3D-MRI acquisition of the human knee joint in vivo to measure the strain in the tibiofemoral articular cartilage.<h4>Study type</h4>Prospective.<h4>Subjects</h4>Five healthy human volunteers (four women, one man ...[more]

PMID: 31282080

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Project description:Biomaterial substrates composed of semi-aligned electrospun fibers are attractive supports for the regeneration of connective tissues because the fibers are durable under cyclic tensile loads and can guide cell adhesion, orientation, and gene expression. Previous studies on supported electrospun substrates have shown that both fiber diameter and mechanical deformation can independently influence cell morphology and gene expression. However, no studies have examined the effect of mechanical deformation and fiber diameter on unsupported meshes. Semi-aligned large (1.75 μm) and small (0.60 μm) diameter fiber meshes were prepared from degradable elastomeric poly(esterurethane urea) (PEUUR) meshes and characterized by tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Next, unsupported meshes were aligned between custom grips (with the stretch axis oriented parallel to axis of fiber alignment), seeded with C3H10T1/2 cells, and subjected to a static load (50 mN, adjusted daily), a cyclic load (4% strain at 0.25 Hz for 30 min, followed by a static tensile loading of 50 mN, daily), or no load. After 3 days of mechanical stimulation, confocal imaging was used to characterize cell shape, while measurements of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression were used to characterize cell retention on unsupported meshes and expression of the connective tissue phenotype. Mechanical testing confirmed that these materials deform elastically to at least 10%. Cells adhered to unsupported meshes under all conditions and aligned with the direction of fiber orientation. Application of static and cyclic loads increased cell alignment. Cell density and mRNA expression of connective tissue proteins were not statistically different between experimental groups. However, on large diameter fiber meshes, static loading slightly elevated tenomodulin expression relative to the no load group, and tenascin-C and tenomodulin expression relative to the cyclic load group. These results demonstrate the feasibility of maintaining cell adhesion and alignment on semi-aligned fibrous elastomeric substrates under different mechanical conditions. The study confirms that cell morphology is sensitive to the mechanical environment and suggests that expression of select connective tissue genes may be enhanced on large diameter fiber meshes under static tensile loads.

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Dataset Information

In vivo tibiofemoral cartilage strain mapping under static mechanical loading using continuous GRASP-MRI.

Background

Purpose

Study type

Subjects

Field strength/sequence

Assessment

Statistical tests

Results

Data conclusion

Level of evidence

Publications

In vivo tibiofemoral cartilage strain mapping under static mechanical loading using continuous GRASP-MRI.

Similar Datasets

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