Glycosaminoglycan and Collagen Remodeling During In Vitro Dynamic Compression of Articular Cartilage: Experiments and Finite Element Modeling

The biomechanical properties of articular cartilage (AC) can be altered by chemical and mechanical stimuli. Dynamic unconfined compression (UCC) has been shown to increase biosynthesis at moderate strain amplitudes (1–4%) and frequencies from 0.01Hz. to 0.1Hz [1]. Furthermore, interstitial fluid velocity and maximum principle strain have been proposed as candidates for controlling glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen (COL) remodeling, respectively [2,3]. The goal of this study was to integrate in vitro growth data, including biochemical and microstructural properties, into a computational continuum mixture model to elucidate potential mechanical triggers for AC tissue remodeling.