ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Articular cartilage has a high-weight-bearing area and a low-weight-bearing area. There are different macroscopic elastic moduli in the two regions, but the modulus of the two areas at the micro and nano levels is unknown. Such information is important for further understanding of cartilage micro and nano mechanics. Moreover, the micro and nano structures of the two areas, which influence the cartilage mechanical properties, should be discussed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanical properties and structure of high- and low-weight-bearing areas of the hip articular cartilage at the micro and nano levels. METHODS: Normal porcine femoral head cartilage was used. Atomic force microscopy with a spherical tip of 5 µm in diameter was used to measure the microscale compressive elastic modulus of different weight-bearing areas of the cartilage. The nanoscale compressive elastic modulus, nano structure, and collagen fiber diameter were measured using a ScanAsyst-Air probe with a radius of curvature of 5 nm. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to identify the microstructure of different weight-bearing areas of the cartilage. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The microscale elastic modulus of the high-weight-bearing area of the femoral head cartilage was (433.05±146.52) kPa, and the microscale elastic modulus of the low-weight-bearing area was (331.19±84.88) kPa. The nanoscale elastic modulus of the high- and low-weight-bearing areas of the femoral head cartilage was (1.24±0.42) GPa and (1.28±0.41) GPa, respectively. While no statistically significant differences were found in the elastic modulus of collagen fibers at the nano level (P=0.846 2). The collagen fibers of the high-weight-bearing area arranged more regularly than those of the low-weight-bearing area at the micro level. No significant differences between collagen fiber diameter of the two areas at the nano level were observed (P=0.926 4). To conclude, the collagen fibers of the high-weight-bearing area are cross-linked more regularly than those of low-weight-bearing area. Therefore, the compressive elastic modulus of the high-weight-bearing area at the micro level is significantly higher than that of the low-weight-bearing area, which is consistent with the macroscopic compressive elastic modulus trend. However, high-weight-bearing has no impact on individual collagen fibers at the nano level.