The Study On Viscoelastic Properties Of Chondrocvtes From Different Age Groups Rabbit Articular Cartilage

Tissue Engineering brings the hope to healing articular cartilage disease. But the basic problems of cartilage tissue engineering relate to the mechanical properties of chondrocytes. In the paper, the micropipette aspiration technique was utilized to investigate the viscoelastic properties of chondrocytes isolated from different age groups rabbit articular cartilage. The chondrocytes of each group were cultured and were studied by light microscope and pathology. The main conclusion can be drawn as follows:(1) During the course of aspiration, chondrocytes has a typical viscoelastic creep response to a step negative pressure.(2) Experimental studies have shown that the viscoelastic properties of chondrocytes in old group exhibited a significantly lower equilibrium modulus E_∞(0.278+0.035 kPa) , instantaneous modulus E₀ (0.549+0.048kPa), and apparent viscosityμ(4.105+0.606kPa-s) compared with young group E_∞( 0.382+0.125kPa ) , E₀(0.683+0.128kPa) ,μ(6.327+0.945kPa·s) , and middle age group E_∞(0.338+0.108 kPa),E₀(0.647+0.118kPa),μ(6.053+0.935kPa·s). A significant difference was observed between the viscoelastic parameters from old group and young group ,also the difference was A significant difference was observed between the viscoelastic parameters from old group and young group ,also the difference was observed between the viscoelastic parameters from old group and middle age group (P＜0.05) . No Significant differences were found between the viscoelastic parameters of young group and middle age group (P>0.05) .This research method will provide a reference for biomechanics and tissue engineering. The results can also provide a reference for selecting appropriate time of seed. Furthermore, the study will provide a theory for tissue engineering.in healing articular cartilage disease.