In recent years much progress has been made in our understanding of the basic engineering science of articular cartilage lubrication, driven significantly by the progress achieved in the prior funding periods (1995- 2008) of this grant. Though many competing hypotheses had been advanced over past decades, starting from the 1930's, a fundamental mechanism of lubrication driven by interstitial fluid pressurization of articular cartilage has now been identified and validated from theory and numerous experiments. Upon loading, the interstitial fluid of contacting articular layers pressurizes significantly, supporting most of the contact force;consequently, only a small fraction of this contact force is supported by the contacting collagen-proteoglycan matrixes, producing a negligible friction force, and thus a low friction coefficient. Though boundary lubricants present in synovial fluid help to further reduce the friction coefficient, our recent study has shown that the dominant reduction in friction is contributed by this interstitial fluid pressurization mechanism. If the interstitial fluid pressure subsides, as may occur under certain loading conditions, the friction coefficient rises dramatically, and evidence from our experiments indicates that cartilage wear increases concomitantly. Thanks to the availability of a validated theoretical framework explaining the mechanism of lubrication by interstitial fluid pressurization, it is possible to anticipate those loading conditions where interstitial fluid pressurization may subside.
The specific aims of this competing continuation application are to translate these basic science findings into important, clinically relevant insights for joint hemiarthroplasties. Hemiarthroplasty is a surgical procedure that replaces one half of a diarthrodial joint with a smooth impermeable artificial bearing surface, leaving the apposing articular layer intact. Clinical experience suggests that, following hemiarthroplasty, degeneration of the native articular layer may progress at a faster rate than expected in osteoarthritis. The overall objective of this application is to a) investigate whether hemiarthroplasties fare poorly because they produce elevated friction coefficients by failing to promote sufficient cartilage interstitial fluid pressurization;and b) investigate whether hemiarthroplasties where the artificial bearing surface is a deformable porous-permeable material can produce lower sustained friction and wear than traditional impermeable bearing materials. Additional objectives aim to further deepen our basic science understanding of cartilage lubrication and wear, setting the stage for designing improved bearing surfaces for hemiarthroplasties.

Public Health Relevance

There are more than 120,000 hip hemiarthroplasties performed each year in the US. The two principal aims of this application are to (1) provide an explanation for the observation that hemiarthroplasties lead to a faster wear of the native articular surface of an operated joint than otherwise expected in osteoarthritis, based on principles of friction and wear;and (2) propose an engineering solution for redesigning hemiarthroplasties to reduce friction and wear. If successful, these studies can lead to a significant improvement in hemiarthroplasty procedures.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR043628-17
Application #
8463122
Study Section
Skeletal Biology Structure and Regeneration Study Section (SBSR)
Program Officer
Panagis, James S
Project Start
1995-06-15
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2013-06-01
Budget End
2014-05-31
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$286,194
Indirect Cost
$101,514
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
049179401
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10027
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Jones, Brian; Hung, Clark T; Ateshian, Gerard (2016) Biphasic Analysis of Cartilage Stresses in the Patellofemoral Joint. J Knee Surg 29:92-8
Albro, Michael B; Nims, Robert J; Durney, Krista M et al. (2016) Heterogeneous engineered cartilage growth results from gradients of media-supplemented active TGF-? and is ameliorated by the alternative supplementation of latent TGF-?. Biomaterials 77:173-185
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Jones, Brian K; Durney, Krista M; Hung, Clark T et al. (2015) The friction coefficient of shoulder joints remains remarkably low over 24 h of loading. J Biomech 48:3945-9
Ateshian, Gerard A (2015) Viscoelasticity using reactive constrained solid mixtures. J Biomech 48:941-7
Oungoulian, Sevan R; Hehir, Kristin E; Zhu, Kaicen et al. (2014) Effect of glutaraldehyde fixation on the frictional response of immature bovine articular cartilage explants. J Biomech 47:694-701
Albro, Michael B; Nims, Robert J; Cigan, Alexander D et al. (2013) Dynamic mechanical compression of devitalized articular cartilage does not activate latent TGF-?. J Biomech 46:1433-9
Oungoulian, Sevan R; Chang, Stephany; Bortz, Orian et al. (2013) Articular cartilage wear characterization with a particle sizing and counting analyzer. J Biomech Eng 135:024501

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