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Molecular Adhesion between Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Macromolecules
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Molecular Adhesion between Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Macromolecules

Fredrick P. Rojas, Michael A. Batista, C. Alexander Lindburg, Delphine Dean, Alan J. Grodzinsky, Christine Ortiz and Lin Han
Biomacromolecules, v 15(3), pp 772-780
01 Mar 2014
PMID: 24491174
url
https://doi.org/10.1021/bm401611bView
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access (Publisher-Specific) Open

Abstract

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Chemistry Chemistry, Organic Life Sciences & Biomedicine Physical Sciences Polymer Science Science & Technology
In this study, we investigated the molecular adhesion between the major constituents of cartilage extracellular matrix, namely, the highly negatively charged proteoglycan aggrecan and the type II/IX/XI fibrillar collagen network, in simulated physiological conditions. Colloidal force spectroscopy was applied to measure the maximum adhesion force and total adhesion energy between aggrecan end-attached spherical tips (end radius R approximate to 2.5 mu m) and trypsin-treated cartilage disks with undamaged collagen networks. Studies were carried out in various aqueous solutions to reveal the physical factors that govern aggrecan-collagen adhesion. Increasing both ionic strength and [Ca2+] significantly increased adhesion, highlighting the importance of electrostatic repulsion and Ca2+-mediated ion bridging effects. In addition, we probed how partial enzymatic degradation of the collagen network, which simulates osteoarthritic conditions, affects the aggrecan-collagen interactions. Interestingly, we found a significant increase in aggrecan-collagen adhesion even when there were no detectable changes at the macro- or microscales. It is hypothesized that the aggrecan-collagen adhesion, together with aggrecan-aggrecan self-adhesion, works synergistically to determine the local molecular deformability and energy dissipation of the cartilage matrix, in turn, affecting its macroscopic tissue properties.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chemistry, Organic
Polymer Science
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