scholarly journals Evaluation of an In Situ Gelable and Injectable Hydrogel Treatment to Preserve Human Disc Mechanical Function Undergoing Physiologic Cyclic Loading Followed by Hydrated Recovery

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent L. Showalter ◽  
Dawn M. Elliott ◽  
Weiliam Chen ◽  
Neil R. Malhotra
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Loading ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Compressive Loading ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Injectable Hydrogel ◽  
Oxidized Dextran ◽  
Human Lumbar Spine ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Solid Foundation ◽  
Back Problems

Despite the prevalence of disc degeneration and its contributions to low back problems, many current treatments are palliative only and ultimately fail. To address this, nucleus pulposus replacements are under development. Previous work on an injectable hydrogel nucleus pulposus replacement composed of n-carboxyethyl chitosan, oxidized dextran, and teleostean has shown that it has properties similar to native nucleus pulposus, can restore compressive range of motion in ovine discs, is biocompatible, and promotes cell proliferation. The objective of this study was to determine if the hydrogel implant will be contained and if it will restore mechanics in human discs undergoing physiologic cyclic compressive loading. Fourteen human lumbar spine segments were tested using physiologic cyclic compressive loading while intact, following nucleotomy, and again following treatment of injecting either phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (sham, n = 7) or hydrogel (implant, n = 7). In each compressive test, mechanical parameters were measured immediately before and after 10,000 cycles of compressive loading and following a period of hydrated recovery. The hydrogel implant was not ejected from the disc during 10,000 cycles of physiological compression testing and appeared undamaged when discs were bisected following all mechanical tests. For sham samples, creep during cyclic loading increased (+15%) from creep during nucleotomy testing, while for implant samples creep strain decreased (−3%) toward normal. There was no difference in compressive modulus or compressive strains between implant and sham samples. These findings demonstrate that the implant interdigitates with the nucleus pulposus, preventing its expulsion during 10,000 cycles of compressive loading and preserves disc creep within human L5–S1 discs. This and previous studies provide a solid foundation for continuing to evaluate the efficacy of the hydrogel implant.

Disc Mechanics With Trans-Endplate Partial Nucleotomy are not Fully Restored Following Cyclic Compressive Loading and Unloaded Recovery

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 823-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. Vresilovic ◽  
Wade Johannessen ◽  
Dawn M. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Loading ◽  
Stress Relaxation ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Annulus Fibrosus ◽  
Compressive Loading ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Mechanical Behaviors ◽  
Short Time

Mechanical function of the intervertebral disc is maintained through the interaction between the hydrated nucleus pulposus, the surrounding annulus fibrosus, and the superior and inferior endplates. In disc degeneration the normal transfer of load between disc substructures is compromised. The objective of this study was to explore the mechanical role of the nucleus pulposus in support of axial compressive loads over time. This was achieved by measuring the elastic slow ramp and viscoelastic stress-relaxation mechanical behaviors of cadaveric sheep motion segments before and after partial nucleotomy through the endplate (keeping the annulus fibrosus intact). Mechanics were evaluated at five conditions: Intact, intact after 10,000cycles of compression, acutely after nucleotomy, following nucleotomy and 10,000cycles of compression, and following unloaded recovery. Radiographs and magnetic resonance images were obtained to examine structure. Only the short time constant of the stress relaxation was altered due to nucleotomy. In contrast, cyclic loading resulted in significant and large changes to both the stiffness and stress relaxation behaviors. Moreover, the nucleotomy had little to no effect on the disc mechanics after cyclic loading, as there were no significant differences comparing mechanics after cyclic loading with or without the nucleotomy. Following unloaded recovery the mechanical changes that had occurred as a consequence of cyclic loading were restored, leaving only a sustained change in the short time constant due to the trans-endplate nucleotomy. Thus the swelling and redistribution of the remaining nucleus pulposus was not able to fully restore mechanical behaviors. This study reveals insights into the role of the nucleus pulposus in disc function, and provides new information toward the potential role of altered nucleus pulpous function in the degenerative cascade.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Proteoglycan Loss, Overloading-Induced Collagen Damage, and Cyclic Loading in Articular Cartilage

Cartilage ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 194760351988500
Author(s):  
Lorenza Henao-Murillo ◽  
Maria-Ioana Pastrama ◽  
Keita Ito ◽  
Corrinus C. van Donkelaar
Keyword(s):  
Articular Cartilage ◽  
Cyclic Loading ◽  
Mechanical Loading ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Repeated Loading ◽  
Healthy Cartilage ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Damage Grades ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Phosphate Buffered Saline

Objective The interaction between proteoglycan loss and collagen damage in articular cartilage and the effect of mechanical loading on this interaction remain unknown. The aim of this study was to answer the following questions: (1) Is proteoglycan loss dependent on the amount of collagen damage and does it depend on whether this collagen damage is superficial or internal? (2) Does repeated loading further increase the already enhanced proteoglycan loss in cartilage with collagen damage? Design Fifty-six bovine osteochondral plugs were equilibrated in phosphate-buffered saline for 24 hours, mechanically tested in compression for 8 hours, and kept in phosphate-buffered saline for another 48 hours. The mechanical tests included an overloading step to induce collagen damage, creep steps to determine tissue stiffness, and cyclic loading to induce convection. Proteoglycan release was measured before and after mechanical loading, as well as 48 hours post-loading. Collagen damage was scored histologically. Results Histology revealed different collagen damage grades after the application of mechanical overloading. After 48 hours in phosphate-buffered saline postloading, proteoglycan loss increased linearly with the amount of total collagen damage and was dependent on the presence but not the amount of internal collagen damage. In samples without collagen damage, repeated loading also resulted in increased proteoglycan loss. However, repeated loading did not further enhance the proteoglycan loss induced by damaged collagen. Conclusion Proteoglycan loss is enhanced by collagen damage and it depends on the presence of internal collagen damage. Cyclic loading stimulates proteoglycan loss in healthy cartilage but does not lead to additional loss in cartilage with damaged collagen.

scholarly journals Fast Preparation of High-Performance Wood Materials Assisted by Ultrasonic and Vacuum Impregnation

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
Hong Yang ◽  
Mingyu Gao ◽  
Jinxin Wang ◽  
Hongbo Mu ◽  
Dawei Qi
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Vacuum Impregnation ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Ultrasonic Pretreatment ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Before And After ◽  
New Material ◽  
Ft Ir

In the absence of high-quality hardwood timber resources, we have gradually turned our attention from natural forests to planted fast-growing forests. However, fast-growing tree timber in general has defects such as low wood density, loose texture, and poor mechanical properties. Therefore, improving the performance of wood through efficient and rapid technological processes and increasing the utilization of inferior wood is a good way to extend the use of wood. Densification of wood increases the strength of low-density wood and extends the range of applications for wood and wood-derived products. In this paper, the effects of ultrasonic and vacuum pretreatment on the properties of high-performance wood were explored by combining sonication, vacuum impregnation, chemical softening, and thermomechanical treatments to densify the wood; then, the changes in the chemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of poplar wood before and after treatment were analyzed comparatively by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and mechanical tests. The results showed that with ultrasonic pretreatment and vacuum impregnation, the compression ratio of high-performance wood reached its highest level and the MOR and MOE reached their maximums. With the help of this method, fast-growing softwoods can be easily prepared into dense wood materials, and it is hoped that this new material can be applied in the fields of construction, aviation, and automobile manufacturing.

Experimentally Validated Computational Simulation of Lumbar Spine Intervertebral Disc Puncture

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen E. Lipscomb ◽  
Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Chronic Back Pain ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Computational Simulation ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Spine Model

Back pain is a debilitating medical condition, often with an unclear source. Over time, back pain can affect the work and lifestyle of an individual by reducing job productivity and time spent on enjoyable activities. Discography of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is often used to diagnose pathology of the disc and determine if it may be a source for chronic back pain. It has recently been suggested that discography may lead to IVD degeneration, and has been a cause of controversy among spine care physicians. Using the results from a cadaveric experimental model, a finite element model was first validated. Then, a study was conducted to better understand the changes caused by discography on human spine mechanics. An anatomically accurate L3-L5 lumbar spine model was developed using computed tomography scans. Discography was simulated in the model as an area in the disc affected by needle puncture. The material properties in the nucleus pulposus were adjusted to match experimental data both before and after puncture. The results show that puncture of the IVD leads to increased deformation as well as increased stresses in the disc. Pressure in the nucleus pulposus found to decrease after puncture, and was calculated in the course of this study. Puncturing the IVD changes disc mechanics and may lead to progressive spine issues in the future such as disc degeneration. While discography has been the gold standard to determine if the disc was a source of back pain in patients for many years, the potential long-term degenerative effects of the procedure are only now coming into light, and must be closely examined.

scholarly journals Study of the Behavior of Structural Materials Treated with Bioconsolidant

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 5369
Author(s):  
Yolanda Spairani ◽  
Arianna Cisternino ◽  
Dora Foti ◽  
Michela Lerna ◽  
Salvador Ivorra
Keyword(s):  
Structural Materials ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Experimental Campaign ◽  
Stone Materials ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Optical Photomicrograph ◽  
Stone Material ◽  
Artificial Stone ◽  
Non Destructive

In this article, the effectiveness of the bioconsolidation technique applied to degraded structural materials is illustrated as a new method of consolidation and conservation of the existing building heritage in a less invasive way. Satisfactory results have been obtained by an experimental campaign carried out through non-destructive diagnostic tests, static destructive mechanical tests, and microstructural analyses on a series of natural stone material specimens and artificial stone materials before and after the use of bioconsolidants. The consolidated specimens have been tested after three to four weeks after the application of the M3P nutritional solution on each specimen. The effect on the microstructure of this technique has also been observed using scanning electron microscope and optical photomicrograph, the formation of new calcium carbonate crystals promoting the structural consolidation of the materials under examination was observed in all the specimens analyzed.

scholarly journals Tension mechanical properties of recycled glass-epoxy composite material

2012 ◽  
pp. 189-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Petrovic ◽  
Darko Ljubic ◽  
Marina Stamenovic ◽  
Ivana Dimic ◽  
Slavisa Putic
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Composite Material ◽  
Composite Materials ◽  
Modulus Of Elasticity ◽  
Epoxy Composite ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Recycled Glass ◽  
Before And After

The significance of composite materials and their applications are mainly due to their good properties. This imposes the need for their recycling, thus extending their lifetime. Once used composite material will be disposed as a waste at the end of it service life. After recycling, this kind of waste can be used as raw materials for the production of same material, which raises their applicability. This indicates a great importance of recycling as a method of the renowal of composite materials. This study represents a contribution to the field of mechanical properties of the recycled composite materials. The tension mechanical properties (tensile strength and modulus of elasticity) of once used and disposed glass-epoxy composite material were compared before and after the recycling. The obtained results from mechanical tests confirmed that the applied recycling method was suitable for glass-epoxy composite materials. In respect to the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity it can be further assessed the possibility of use of recycled glass-epoxy composite materials.

Injectable hydrogel composed of hydrophobically modified chitosan/oxidized-dextran for wound healing

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 109930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinchen Du ◽  
Yujie Liu ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Hongyu Yan ◽  
Lina Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Injectable Hydrogel ◽  
Oxidized Dextran ◽  
Modified Chitosan ◽  
Hydrophobically Modified

scholarly journals Experimental Investigation of Rubber Swelling in Bitumen

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haopeng Wang ◽  
Xueyan Liu ◽  
Panos Apostolidis ◽  
Sandra Erkens ◽  
Athanasios Skarpas
Keyword(s):  
Volume Expansion ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Gravimetric Method ◽  
Crumb Rubber ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Modified Bitumen ◽  
Truck Tire ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Swelling Characteristics ◽  
X Ray Computed

Rubber swelling in bitumen, which is a diffusion-induced volume expansion process, plays a dominant role in the design of crumb rubber modified bitumen binders and their properties development. This study aims to investigate the kinetics of bitumen diffusion into truck tire rubber, the equilibrium swelling characteristics of rubber, and the mechanical properties of rubber before and after swelling at different high temperatures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results indicate that no rubber dissolution happens during the interaction in the temperature range from 160°C to 200°C. Aliphatic compounds from bitumen preferentially diffused into rubber during the swelling process. The diffusion coefficients of bitumen into rubber were determined by the sorption test using the gravimetric method. The diffusion coefficient increases with the increase of temperature in an Arrhenius form. The volume expansion of rubber during swelling was captured by the X-ray computed tomography scan images. Rubber swells faster at the earlier stages, then the expansion rate slows down. The swelling ratio of rubber increased from 1.97 at 160°C to 3.03 at 200°C after 36 h interaction. Mechanical tests by dynamic shear rheometer reveal that swollen rubber becomes softer compared with the dry rubber and exhibits obvious viscoelastic behaviors. With the increase of temperature, the softening and viscous effect are more significant. The obtained parameters can be implemented to swelling and micromechanical models to better predict the binder properties.

scholarly journals Preparation and Characterization of Composites Materials with Rubber Matrix and with Polyvinyl Chloride Addition (PVC)

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1978
Author(s):  
Dan Dobrotă ◽  
Valentin Petrescu ◽  
Cristinel Sabin Dimulescu ◽  
Mihaela Oleksik
Keyword(s):  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Accelerated Aging ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Rubber Matrix ◽  
The Finite Element Method ◽  
Composites Materials ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Conveyor Belts

An important problem that arises at present refers to the increase in performances in the exploitation of the conveyor belts. Additionally, it is pursued to use some materials, which can be obtained by recycling rubber and PVC waste, in their structure. Thus, the research aimed at creating conveyor belts using materials obtained from the recycling of rubber and PVC waste. Under these conditions, conveyor belts were made that had in their structure two types of rubber and PVC, which was obtained by adding in certain proportions of reclaimed rubber and powder obtained from grinding rubber waste. In order to study the effect of adding PVC on properties, four types of conveyor belts were made, with the structure of rubber, PVC and textile reinforcement. These have been subjected to certain mechanical tests, also being analyzed from the point of view of the behavior of the accelerated aging. The results obtained showed that the addition of PVC lead to a decrease in tensile stress for the strips made, but also an increase in the tensile strain. Additionally, the elasticity tests performed before and after the accelerated aging showed that the presence of PVC in the structure of the conveyor belts determined a substantial reduction of the aging process of the rubber in the conveyor belts. Under these conditions, it has been established that the use of PVC in the structure of rubber matrix conveyor belts is beneficial if conveyor belts are to be produced that are less subject to mechanical stress, but that work in conditions that can cause accelerated aging of materials. An analysis with the finite element method (FEM) of the test samples was also performed.

scholarly journals Low Magnitude of Compression Enhances Biosynthesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells towards Nucleus Pulposus Cells via the TRPV4-Dependent Pathway

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yibo Gan ◽  
Bing Tu ◽  
Pei Li ◽  
Jixing Ye ◽  
Chen Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
Compressive Loading ◽  
3D Culture ◽  
Receptor Potential ◽  
Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus Cells ◽  
Anabolic Response ◽  
Low Magnitude

Mesenchymal stem cell- (MSC-) based therapy is regarded as a promising tissue engineering strategy to achieve nucleus pulposus (NP) regeneration for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, it is still a challenge to promote the biosynthesis of MSC to meet the requirement of NP regeneration. The purpose of this study was to optimize the compressive magnitude to enhance the extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition towards discogenesis of MSCs. Thus, we constructed a 3D culture model for MSCs to bear different magnitudes of compression for 7 days (5%, 10%, and 20% at the frequency of 1.0 Hz for 8 hours/day) using an intelligent and mechanically active bioreactor. Then, the underlying mechanotransduction mechanism of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) was further explored. The MSC-encapsulated hybrids were evaluated by Live/Dead staining, biochemical content assay, real-time PCR, Western blot, histological, and immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that low-magnitude compression promoted anabolic response where high-magnitude compression induced the catabolic response for the 3D-cultured MSCs. The anabolic effect of low-magnitude compression could be inhibited by inhibiting TRPV4. Meanwhile, the activation of TRPV4 enhanced the biosynthesis analogous to low-magnitude compression. These findings demonstrate that low-magnitude compression promoted the anabolic response of ECM deposition towards discogenesis for the 3D-cultured MSCs and the TRPV4 channel plays a key role on mechanical signal transduction for low-magnitude compressive loading. Further understanding of this mechanism may provide insights into the development of new therapies for MSC-based NP regeneration.

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