Research Article

Superficial Collagen Fibril Modulus and Pericellular Fixed Charge Density Modulate Chondrocyte Volumetric Behaviour in Early Osteoarthritis

Figure 1

Finite element model (a) and corresponding microscopy and mechanical testing setup (b). Fixed patellar cartilage samples immersed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were imaged during mechanical loading. Image stacks were formed and cell volumes and dimensions calculated before and after loading (at steady state). Then, an axisymmetric global model and a micromodel were constructed. Cell volume and morphology before loading and at equilibrium were analyzed and compared with experimental results.
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