Effects of Freeze-Thaw Cycle with and without Proteolysis Inhibitors and Cryopreservant on the Biochemical and Biomechanical Properties of Articular Cartilage.

Objective: We investigated the effects of freeze-thawing on the properties of articular cartilage.

Design: The reproducibility of repeated biomechanical assay of the same osteochondral sample was first verified with 11 patellar plugs from 3 animals. Then, 4 osteochondral samples from 15 bovine patellae were divided into 4 groups.