Purpose: To investigate the B orientation-dependent magnetic susceptibility of collagen fibrils within the articular cartilage and to determine whether susceptibility tensor imaging (STI) can detect the 3D collagen network within cartilage.
Methods: Multiecho gradient echo datasets (100-μm isotropic resolution) were acquired from fixed porcine articular cartilage specimens at 9.4 T. The susceptibility tensor was calculated using phase images acquired at 12 or 15 different orientations relative to B . The susceptibility anisotropy of the collagen fibril was quantified and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was compared against STI. 3D tractography was performed to visualize and track the collagen fibrils with DTI and STI.
Results: STI experiments showed the distinct and significant anisotropic magnetic susceptibility of collagen fibrils within the articular cartilage. STI can be used to measure and quantify susceptibility anisotropy maps. Furthermore, STI provides orientation information of the underlying collagen network via 3D tractography.
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that STI can characterize the orientation variation of collagen fibrils where diffusion anisotropy fails. We believe that STI could serve as a sensitive and noninvasive marker to study the collagen fibrils microstructure. Magn Reson Med 78:1683-1690, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrm.26882 | DOI Listing |
Front Cell Dev Biol
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Mathematical Institute, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.
Many mammalian cells, including endothelial cells and fibroblasts, align and elongate along the orientation of extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers in a gel when cultured . During cell elongation, clusters of focal adhesions (FAs) form near the poles of the elongating cells. FAs are mechanosensitive clusters of adhesions that grow under mechanical tension exerted by the cells' pulling on the ECM and shrink when the tension is released.
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January 2025
Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Biological Diagnosis, Treatment and Protection Technology and Equipment, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
Fracture healing is a complex process during which the bone restores its structural and mechanical integrity. Collagen networks and minerals are the fundamental components to rebuild the bone matrix in callus. It has been recognized that bone quality could be impaired during aging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomech Model Mechanobiol
January 2025
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, 70503, USA.
This research demonstrates a systematic curve fitting approach for acquiring parametric values of hyperelastic constitutive models for both healthy and enzymatically mediated degenerated cartilage to facilitate finite element modeling of cartilage. Several widely used phenomenological hyperelastic constitutive models were tested to adequately capture the changes in cartilage mechanics that vary with the differential/unequal abundance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Trauma and physiological conditions result in an increased production of collagenases (MMP-1) and gelatinases (MMP-9), which impacts the load-bearing ability of cartilage by significantly deteriorating its extracellular matrix (ECM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Exp Clin Cancer Res
January 2025
Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Background: Metabolic syndrome represents a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) risk factor. Metabolic alterations favor PDAC onset, which occurs early upon dysmetabolism. Pancreatic neoplastic lesions evolve within a dense desmoplastic stroma, consisting in abundant extracellular matrix settled by cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethods
January 2025
Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address:
The cornea is the primary refracting surface of the eye, requiring precise curvature to ensure optimal vision. Any distortion in its shape may result in significant visual impairment. Corneal ectasias, such as keratoconus (KC), is characterized by gradual thinning and protrusion of the thinned area, due to biomechanical weakening of the tissue, leading to astigmatism and vision loss.
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