Method Article

A Friction Testing-Bioreactor Device for Study of Synovial Joint Biomechanics, Mechanobiology, and Physical Regulation

DOI:

10.3791/63880

⸱

June 2nd, 2022

 ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University

* These authors contributed equally

In This Article

Summary

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The present protocol describes a friction testing device that applies simultaneous reciprocal sliding and normal load to two contacting biological counterfaces.

Abstract

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In primary osteoarthritis (OA), normal 'wear and tear' associated with aging inhibits the ability of cartilage to sustain its load-bearing and lubrication functions, fostering a deleterious physical environment. The frictional interactions of articular cartilage and synovium may influence joint homeostasis through tissue level wear and cellular mechanotransduction. To study these mechanical and mechanobiological processes, a device capable of replicating the motion of the joint is described. The friction testing device controls the delivery of reciprocal translating motion and normal load to two contacting biological counterfaces. This study adopts a synovium-on-cartilage configuration, and friction coefficient measurements are presented for tests performed in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or synovial fluid (SF) bath. The testing was performed for a range of contact stresses, highlighting the lubricating properties of SF under high loads. This friction testing device can be used as a biomimetic bioreactor for studying the physical regulation of living joint tissues in response to applied physiologic loading associated with diarthrodial joint articulation.

Introduction

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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating, degenerative joint disease that affects more than 32 million American adults, with a healthcare and socio-economic cost of over $16.5 billion1. The disease has classically been characterized by the degradation of articular cartilage and subchondral bone; however, changes to the synovium have recently garnered appreciation as synovitis has been linked to OA symptoms and progression2,3,4. In primary (idiopathic) OA, normal 'wear and tear' associated with aging inhibits cartilage's ability to sustain its ....

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Protocol

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Juvenile bovine knee joints, obtained from a local abattoir, were used for the present study. Studies with such bovine specimen samples are exempted from Columbia Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

1. Designing the friction testing device

NOTE: A schematic representation of the friction testing device is shown in Figure 1. The device is built on a rigid base plate (not shown), which serves as a platform for structural support.

  1. Attach a stepper motor to the horizontal translation stage (see Table of Materials), creating a....

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Results

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A synovium-on-cartilage configuration was used to friction test juvenile bovine explants. The synovium was mounted on a 10 mm diameter acrylic loading platen such that the intimal layer would be in contact with the underlying cartilage. A tibial strip was used as the cartilage counterface (Figure 6A). Tibial strips were cut with a depth of approximately 1.4 mm and a size of 10 mm x 30 mm. The samples were tested for 1 h at 37 °C in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) bath or a bovine synovial .......

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Discussion

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A dynamic mechanical environment exists within the joint as cartilage is subjected to compressive, tensile, and shear forces, and hydrostatic and osmotic pressures44,45. Although cartilage is the main load-bearing tissue of the joint, the synovium also undergoes frictional interactions with the cartilage surface and with itself in regions where the tissue folds. The physical interactions between cartilage and synovium are likely responsible for transferring cells.......

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Disclosures

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

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This work was supported by the Orthopaedic Scientific Research Foundation, NIH 5R01 AR068133, NIH TERC 5P41EB027062, and NIGMS R01 692 GM083925 (Funder ID: 10.13039/100000057).

....

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Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
Aluminum foilReynolds Group HoldingsReynolds WrapSterile tissue harvest
Aluminum-framed acrylic enclosureCustom madeFriction tester component
Autoclavable instant sealing sterilization pouchesFisherbrand01-812-54Sterilization of tools
AutoclaveBuxtonSterilization of tools
Beaker (250 mL)Pyrex Vista70000Tissue harvest
Betadine (Povidone Iodine Prep Solution)Medline Industries, LPMDS093906Sterile tissue harvest
Biological safety cabinetLabconcoPurifier Logic+ Class II, Type A2 BSCSterile tissue harvest
Biospy punchSteritool Inc.50162Tissue harvest
Box cutterAmerican Safety Razor Company94-120-71Tissue harvest
Circular acrylic-sillicone post (synovium)Custom madeTissue mounting
Culture mediaCustom madeDMEM (Cat No. 11-965-118; Gibco) supplemented with 50 μg/mL L-proline (Cat. No. P5607; Sigma), 100 μg/mL sodium pyruvate (Cat. No. S8636; Sigma), 1% ITS (Cat. No. 354350; Corning), and 1% antibiotic–antimycotic (Cat. No. 15-240-062, Gibco)
Cyanoacrylate (Loctite 420 Clear)Henkel135455Tissue mounting
Dead weightsOHAUSNormal load
Ethanol 200 proofDecon Labs, Inc.2701Dilute to 70 %
Fixed baseThorLabs, Inc.SB1TFriction tester component
Forceps (synovium harvest)Fine Science Tools11019-12Tissue harvest
Forceps (synovium mounting)Excelta3C-S-PITissue mounting
Horizontal linear encoder (for translating stage)RSF Electronics, Inc.MSA 670.63Friction tester component; system resolution of 1 µm
Hot glue gun and glueFPC CorporationSurebonder Pro 4000ATissue mounting
LabVIEWNational Instruments CorporationLabVIEW  2010Friction testing program
Load cellJR3 Inc.20E12A-M25BFriction tester component; 0.0019 lbs resolution in x&y, 0.0038 lbs resolution in z
Loading platenCustom madeTissue mounting
O-ringParkerS1138AS568-009Tissue mounting
Petri dish (60 mm)Falcon351007Tissue mounting
PivotLok Work Positioner (tibia holder)Industry Depot, Pivot LokPL325Tissue harvest
Removable baseThorLabs, Inc.SB1BFriction tester component
Ring standTissue harvest
Scalpel bladesHavel's Inc.FSC22Tissue harvest
Scalpel handleFEATHER Safety Razor Co., Ltd.No. 4Tissue harvest
ScrewdriverWera3334Tissue harvest
StageJMARFriction tester component
Stepper motorOriental Motor Co., Ltd.PK266-03BFriction tester component
Suction toolVirtual Industries, Inc.PEN-VAC Vacuum PenTissue mounting
Support rodCustom madeTissue mounting
Surgical scissorsFine Science Tools14061-09Tissue mounting
Synovial fluid (bovine)Animal Technologies, Inc.Friction testing bath
Testing bathCustom madePhosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) with protease inhibitors: 0.04% isothiazolone-base biocide (Proclin 950 Cat. No. 46878-U; Sigma) and 0.1% protease inhibitor - 0.05 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA (Cat. No. 0369; Sigma)
Tissue culture incubatorFisher ScientificIsotempSterile culture
Vertical linear encoder (for loading stage)RenishawT1031-30AFriction tester component; 20 nm resolution
Voice coil actuatorH2W TechnologiesNCC20-15-027-1RCFriction tester component

References

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  1. US Department of Health and Human Services. The Cost of Arthritis in US Adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. , Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/cost.htm (2020).
  2. Buckwalter, J. A., Mankin, H. J. Instructional course lectures, the American....

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Tags

Friction Testing DeviceSynovial Joint BiomechanicsCartilage MechanobiologySynovium Cartilage InteractionFriction Coefficient MeasurementJoint LubricationBioreactor DeviceArticular CartilageSynovial Fluid BathTissue Explant Testing

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