Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2011, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (20): 3629-3632.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2011.20.005

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Mechanical state researches on repairing articular cartilage defects by tissue engineering

Zhang Shu-qing1, Zhang Chun-qiu1, Gao Li-lan1, Sun Ming-lin2, Li Jiang1, Liu Hai-ying1   

  1. 1School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin  300384, China
    2The Hospital of Medical College of CPLAP, Tianjin 300162, China
  • Received:2011-01-12 Revised:2011-02-15 Online:2011-05-14 Published:2011-05-14
  • Contact: Zhang Chun-qiu, Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China zhang_chunqiu@126.com
  • About author:Zhang Shu-qing★, Studying for master’s degree, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China zh_angshuqing@126.com
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 10872147*, 31000422*; the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin, No.09JCYBJC14000*

PDF

438

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Mechanical state has a major impact on the normal physiological activities of cartilage. Excessive stress concentration will cause both the artificial cartilage and the host cartilage degeneration, which will affect the treatment of cartilage defects. Today, it is difficult to find a proper way to measure the mechanical state of cartilage in vivo. Dynamic finite element analysis can simulate the mechanical state of repaired cartilage.
OBJECTIVE: Through finite element method, to research the stress distribution of artificial and host cartilage repaired by tissue engineering under rolling compression loads.
METHODS: Taking part of knee articular cartilage as the research object, a three-dimensional finite element model of relative-rolling movement of articular cartilage was established according to the dynamic boundary conditions between the femur and tibia during normal walking. Finite element technique was used to analyze articular cartilages with different elastic moduli, different compressions, different walking speeds and different defect sizes under the rolling compression loads.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The changes of both the elastic modulus of the implant and compression make the Mises stress variation in both artificial and host cartilage. The modulus and compression have a more pronounced effect on Mises stress distribution at the defect site after tissue engineering repair and these are the main factors that worth being noticed in clinical treatment of cartilage defects and postoperative rehabilitation stage. The impact of different load speeds and defect sizes used in this simulation on Mises stress distribution were not obvious. When the elastic modulus of artificial cartilage takes a certain value, the stress differences of artificial and host cartilage will be very small. The smaller of the stress differences, and the better of the mechanical condition of cartilage in defects, which is helpful to the repairing of defect. The stress differences also have a relationship with the individual properties of host cartilage, so it guides the selection of the elastic modulus of artificial cartilage in repairing the cartilage defects.

CLC Number: