Stress Relaxation Behavior of Collagen Type II- Silk Fibroin Composite Cartilage Scaffold under Different Degradation Cycles / 医用生物力学

Objective To study stress relaxation behaviors of cartilage scaffolds under different degradation cycles by using finite element analysis combined with theoretical models. Methods Based on the established degradation theoretical model, the elastic modulus of the scaffold was calculated under different degradation cycles. The finite element model of cartilage scaffolds was established and stress relaxation simulation was performed to analyze the variation of scaffold relaxation stress with time. The stress relaxation constitutive model was established to predict mechanical properties of the scaffold. Results The elastic modulus of cartilage scaffolds at 14 th, 28th, 42nd, 56th day after degradation was 32. 35, 31. 12, 29. 91, 28. 74 kPa, respectively. The upper layer for cartilage scaffolds was the largest. The overall relaxation stress of the scaffold decreased rapidly with time and then tended to be stable. At 8th week after degradation, the stress which the scaffold couldwithstand was still within the physiological load range of the cartilage. The predicted results of the stress relaxation constitutive model were in good agreement with the finite element simulation results. Conclusions The elastic modulus of the scaffold gradually decreases with the increase of degradation time. The longer the degradation period is, the less stress the scaffold can withstand. At the same degradation period, the larger the applied compressive strain, the larger the stress on the scaffold. Both the finite element simulation and stress relaxation constitutive model can effectively predict stress variations of cartilage scaffolds under degradation

Numerical Analysis on Degradation of Cartilage Scaffold under Perfusion Loading / 医用生物力学

Objective To study the effect of irrigation mechanical stimulation on scaffold degradation by numerical simulation, so as to predict its degradation degree. MethodsBased on perfusion experimental data, the fluid-solid coupling model was established by Comsol. The finite element model of scaffold was established by ABAQUS. Based on the models, the degradation performance of scaffold was simulated and predicted. Results The fluid-solid coupling simulation showed that the initial pressure at the speed of 15.79 mL/min was two-fold of that at 7.89 mL/min. Along the thickness of scaffold from the surface to the bottom, the pressures between the two velocities were decreased and gradually close to each other. The degradation of scaffold structure could be simulated dynamically by combining the degradation constitutive model with the finite element model. The obtained degradation data were consistent with the experimental data, and the residual molecular weight reached 0.643 on the 56th day. Compared with the experimental data, the simulation accuracy was higher than 98%. Conclusions The larger the perfusion velocity is, the greater the pressure on scaffold will be. Under the same perfusion velocity, the maximum force occurs on the surface of scaffold. The degradation pattern of scaffold can be predicted by applying the degradation constitutive model and the finite element model.

Study on transport of small molecule rhodamine B within different layers of cartilage / 生物医学工程学杂志

The small molecule nutrients and cell growth factors required for the normal metabolism of chondrocyte mainly transport into the cartilage through free diffusion. However, the specific mass transfer law in the cartilage remains to be studied. In this study, using small molecule rhodamine B as tracer, the mass transfer models of cartilage were built under different pathways including surface pathway, lateral pathway and composite pathway. Sections of cartilage at different mass transfer times were observed by using laser confocal microscopy and the transport law of small molecules within different layers of cartilage was studied. The results showed that rhodamine B diffused into the whole cartilage layer through surface pathway within 2 h. The fluorescence intensity in the whole cartilage layer increased with the increase of mass transfer time. Compared to mass transfer of 2 h, the mean fluorescence intensity in the superficial, middle, and deep layers of cartilage increased by 1.83, 1.95, and 3.64 times, respectively, after 24 h of mass transfer. Under lateral path condition, rhodamine B was transported along the cartilage width, and the molecular transport distance increased with increasing mass transfer time. It is noted that rhodamine B could be transported to 2 mm away from cartilage side after 24 h of mass transfer. The effect of mass transfer under the composite path was better than those under the surface path and the lateral path, and especially the mass transfer in the deep layer of cartilage was improved. This study may provide a reference for the treatment and repair of cartilage injury.