title: Solute transport at the interface of cartilage and subchondral bone plate: Effect of micro-architecture.
abstract: Cross-talk of subchondral bone and articular cartilage could be an important aspect in the etiology of osteoarthritis. Previous research has provided some evidence of transport of small molecules (~370Da) through the calcified cartilage and subchondral bone plate in murine osteoarthritis models. The current study, for the first time, uses a neutral diffusing computed tomography (CT) contrast agent (iodixanol, ~1550Da) to study the permeability of the osteochondral interface in equine and human samples. Sequential CT monitoring of diffusion after injecting a finite amount of contrast agent solution onto the cartilage surface using a micro-CT showed penetration of the contrast molecules across the cartilage-bone interface. Moreover, diffusion through the cartilage-bone interface was affected by thickness and porosity of the subchondral bone as well as the cartilage thickness in both human and equine samples. Our results revealed that porosity of the subchondral plate contributed more strongly to the diffusion across osteochondral interface compared to other morphological parameters in healthy equine samples. However, thickness of the subchondral plate contributed more strongly to the diffusion in slightly osteoarthritic human samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: b.pouran-2@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Behdad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pouran
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arbabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ronald Law
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bleys
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: René van Weeren
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Amir A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zadpoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Harrie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weinans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D016062:Porosity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Articular cartilage; Iodixanol diffusion; Micro-computed tomography; Osteoarthritis; Osteochondral interface; Subchondral plate thickness and porosity