Interfacial phenomena in cartilage biomechanics: focal points of mechanobiology and targets for clinical diagnostics

关节软骨覆盖关节（例如膝盖，臀部，肩膀）中的骨骼末端。受伤后，它往往不能很好地愈合：软骨退化是骨关节炎和退行性关节疾病的主要组成部分。该组织主要由专门的细胞外基质组成，其基本上是携带大电荷密度的凝胶。这使软骨具有一系列的运输，机械和电动特性，如果彻底了解和准确测量，可以用于疾病的早期检测。请考虑以下情况：（1）溶质通过软骨的运输是组织生理学和用于临床成像的造影剂分布的基础。(2)机械压缩过程中的基质变形提供了对软骨结构和功能的基本见解。(3)软骨中的流体流动引起电动现象，这显示出非侵入性地绘制组织质量的巨大希望。

Articular cartilage covers the ends of bones in joints (e.g. knees, hips, shoulders). Following injury, it often does not heal well: cartilage degeneration is a major component of osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease. The tissue is composed primarily of a specialized extracellular matrix which is essentially a gel carrying a large electrical charge density. This imbues cartilage with a range of transport, mechanical and electrokinetic properties which, if thoroughly understood and accurately measured, may be exploited for early detection of disease. Consider the following: (1) Solute transport through cartilage underlies tissue physiology and the distribution of contrast agents used for clinical imaging. (2) Matrix deformations during mechanical compression provide fundamental insights into cartilage structure and function. (3) Fluid flows in cartilage induce electrokinetic phenomena which show great promise for mapping of tissue quality noninvasively.