Structure and mechanical properties of high-weight-bearing and low-weight-bearing areas of hip cartilage at the micro- and nano-levels

Articular cartilage has a high-weight-bearing area and a low-weight-bearing area, the macroscopic elastic moduli of the two regions are different. Chondrocytes are affected by the applied force at the microscopic level. Currently, the modulus of the two areas at the micro and nano levels is unknown, and studies on the relationship between macro-, micro- and nano-scale elastic moduli are limited. Such information may be important for further understanding of cartilage mechanics. Moreover, the surface morphology, proteoglycan content, and micro and nano structure of the two areas, which influences the mechanical properties of cartilage should be discussed.

Safranin-O/Fast Green staining was used to evaluate the surface morphology and semi-quantify proteoglycan content of porcine femoral head cartilage between the two weight-bearing areas. The unconfined compression test was used to determine the macro elastic modulus. Atomic force microscope was used to measure the micro and nano compressive elastic modulus as well as the nano structure. Scanning electron microscope was employed to evaluate the micro structure.

No significant differences in the fibrillation index were observed between two areas (P = 0.5512). The Safranin-O index of the high-weight-bearing area was significantly higher than that of the low-weight-bearing area (P = 0.0387). The compressive elastic modulus of the high-weight-bearing area at the macro and micro level was significantly higher than that of the low-weight-bearing area (P = 0.0411 for macro-scale, and P = 0.0001 for micro-scale), while no statistically significant differences were observed in the elastic modulus of collagen fibrils at the nano level (P = 0.8544). The density of the collagen fibers was significantly lower in the high-weight-bearing area (P = 0.0177). No significant differences were observed in the structure and diameter of the collagen fibers between the two areas (P = 0.7361).

A higher proteoglycan content correlated with a higher compressive elastic modulus of the high-weight-bearing area at the micro level than that of the low-weight-bearing area, which was consistent with the trend observed from the macroscopic compressive elastic modulus. The weight-bearing level was not associated with the elastic modulus of individual collagen fibers and the diameter at the nano level. The micro structure of cartilage may influence the macro- and micro-scale elastic modulus.