Multiscale Characterization of Type I Collagen Fibril Stress-Strain Behavior under Tensile Load: Analytical vs. MD Approaches.

Type I collagen is one of the most important proteins in the human body because of its role in providing structural support to the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues. Understanding its mechanical properties was widely investigated using experimental testing as well as molecular and finite element simulations. In this work, we present a new approach for defining the properties of the type I collagen fibrils by analytically formulating its response when subjected to a tensile load and investigating the effects of enzymatic crosslinks on the behavioral response.

Biomechanical Characteristics of the Knee Joint during Gait in Obese versus Normal Subjects.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing source of pain and disability. Obesity is the most important avoidable risk factor underlying knee OA. The processes by which obesity impacts osteoarthritis are of tremendous interest to osteoarthritis researchers and physicians, where the joint mechanical load is one of the pathways generally thought to cause or intensify the disease process.

Multiscale modeling of knee ligament biomechanics.

Knee connective tissues are mainly responsible for joint stability and play a crucial role in restraining excessive motion during regular activities. The damage mechanism of these tissues is directly linked to the microscale collagen level. However, this mechanical connection is still unclear.