Tribological Modelling of Biphasic Articular Cartilage and Cartilage Replacement Systems in Anatomical and Physiological Models

终末期关节炎的治疗目前主要包括全关节置换术的手术干预。然而，由于这些装置的临床局限性（通常小于15年），人们担心它们在越来越多的年轻的主要承重关节关节炎患者中使用，而不进行二次手术。因此，人们对早期干预方法如部分表面置换和软骨置换越来越感兴趣，这些方法试图保留关节软骨的部分或全部功能承载面。日益严格的伦理和监管环境要求更广泛的临床前研究，作为将任何新技术转化为患者的一部分。然而，目前还没有临床前功能模拟模型可用于评估这些关节软骨关节装置潜在的长期临床性能。该项目的目的是开发新的计算模型来研究关节软骨的摩擦学（摩擦、磨损和润滑），以了解关节软骨的正常功能，并为开发早期干预髋关节软骨替代解决方案提供指导。计算模型将特别关注关节软骨的两相（流体和固相）承载能力，并利用解剖和生理关节模型整合接触力学、摩擦、润滑和磨损。软骨对软骨和软骨对生物材料如金属（半关节成形术）都将被建模。在将计算模型用于人类髋关节之前，将使用猪髋关节模型进行验证。提出的研究结果将为未来开发新的组织替代解决方案提供指导。

Treatment of end stage arthritis currently involves major surgical intervention in the form of total joint replacement. However, due to the clinical limitation of these devices (generally less than 15 years), there are concerns about their use in increasing numbers of younger patients with arthritis of the major load bearing joints without a secondary operation. Consequently, there are emerging interests in earlier intervention approaches such as partial surface replacement and cartilage substitution, which attempt to retain some or all of the functional bearing surface of articular cartilage. The increasingly rigorous ethical and regulatory environment is demanding more extensive pre-clinical studies, as part of the translation of any new technology to the patient. However, there are currently no pre-clinical functional simulation models that can be used to assess the potential long-term clinical performance of these devices which articulate against articular cartilage. The aims of this project are to develop novel computational models for investigating the tribology (friction, wear and lubrication) of articular cartilage in order to understand the normal function as well as to provide guidance for developing early intervention cartilage substitution solutions in the hip joint. The computational model will particularly focus on the biphasic (fluid and solid phases) loading carrying capacity of articular cartilage and integrate contact mechanics, friction, lubrication and wear using an anatomical and physiological joint model. Both cartilage against cartilage and cartilage against a biomaterial such as metal (hemi-arthroplasty) will be modelled. The computational model will be validated using a porcine hip joint model before use on the human hip joint. The outcome of the proposed research will provide guidance for developing novel tissue substitution solutions in the future.