Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cartilage labelling for mechanical testing in T-peel configuration

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Orthopaedics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to find a suitable method of labelling cartilage samples for the measurement of distraction distances in biomechanical testing.

Methods

Samples of bovine cartilage were labelled using five different methods: hydroquinone and silver nitrate (AgNO3), potassium permanganate (KMnO4) with sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3), India ink, heat, and laser energy. After the labelling, we analysed the cartilage samples with regard to cytotoxity by histochemical staining with ethidiumbromide homodimer (EthD-1) and calcein AM. Furthermore, we tested cartilages labelled with India ink and heat in a T-peel test configuration to analyse possible changes in the mechanical behaviour between marked and unlabelled samples.

Results

Only the labelling methods with Indian ink or a heated needle showed acceptable results in the cytotoxity test with regard to labelling persistence, accuracy, and the influence on consistency and viability of the chondrocytes. In the biomechanical T-peel configuration, heat-labelled samples collapsed significantly earlier than unlabelled samples.

Conclusion

Labelling bovine cartilage samples with Indian ink in biomechanical testing is a reliable, accurate, inexpensive, and easy-to-perform method. This labelling method influenced neither the biomechanical behaviour nor the viability of the tissue compared to untreated bovine cartilage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ahsan T, Sah RL (1999) Biomechanics of integrative cartilage repair. Osteoarthr Cartil 7(1):29–40

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Reindel ES, Ayroso AM, Chen AC et al (1995) Integrative repair of articular cartilage in vitro: adhesive strength of the interface region. J Orthop Res 13(5):751–760

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Englert C, Greiner G, Berner A, Hammer J (2008) T-peel test for the analysis of articular cartilage integration. Stud Health Tech Informat 133:95–102

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Fierlbeck J, Hammer J, Englert C, Reuben RL (2006) Biomechanical properties of articular cartilage as a standard for biologically integrated interfaces. Technol Health Care 14(6):541–547

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Schmitz N, Laverty S, Kraus VB, Aigner T (2010) Basic methods in histopathology of joint tissues. Osteoarthr Cartil 18(Suppl 3):S113–S116

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Salerno A, Trent R, Jackson PJ, Cook MG (1995) A rapid and safe method to fix India ink on specimen resection margins. J Clin Pathol 48:689–692

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lee JH, Fitzgerald JB, Dimicco MA, Grodzinsky AJ (2005) Mechanical injury of cartilage explants causes specific time-dependent changes in chondrocyte gene expression. Arthritis Rheum 52(8):2386–2395

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Spahn G, Wittig R (2003) Biomechanical properties (compressive strength and compressive pressure at break) of hyaline cartilage under axial load. Zentralbl Chir 128(1):78–82

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Voss JR, Lu Y, Edwards RB et al (2006) Effects of thermal energy on chondrocyte viability. Am J Vet Res 67(10):1708–1712

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lu Y, Edwards RB 3rd, Nho S et al (2002) Lavage solution temperature influences depth of chondrocyte death and surface contouring during thermal chondroplasty with temperature-controlled monopolar radiofrequency energy. Am J Sports Med 30(5):667–673

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jones N, Sviridov A, Sobol E et al (2001) A prospective randomised study of laser reshaping of cartilage in vivo. Lasers Med Sci 16(4):284–290

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Rosa SC, Gonçalves J, Judas F et al (2009) Assessment of strategies to increase chondrocyte viability in cryopreserved human osteochondral allografts: evaluation of the glycosylated hydroquinone, arbutin. Osteoarthr Cartil 17(12):1657–1661

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Richard Kujat and Sandra Rohde in the experimental laboratory of the trauma unit of the Medical Centre of the University of Regensburg for their kind support. We are grateful to the University Medical Centre Regensburg for their financial support within the ReForM-C grant as well as to the DFG for their financial support for publication.

The linguistic assistance of Ms Monika Schoell is gratefully acknowledged. We state no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Christian Pfeifer, Michael Müller, Lukas Prantl, Arne Berner & Carsten Englert

  2. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Arne Berner

  3. Biomechanics, University of Applied Science, Regensburg, Germany

    Sebastian Dendorfer

Authors
  1. Christian Pfeifer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lukas Prantl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Arne Berner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sebastian Dendorfer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carsten Englert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carsten Englert.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pfeifer, C., Müller, M., Prantl, L. et al. Cartilage labelling for mechanical testing in T-peel configuration. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 36, 1493–1499 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1468-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1468-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation