ABSTRACT
Lihai Zhang Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Bruce S. Gardiner, David W. Smith, Peter Pivonka Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, The University of Western Australia, Western Australia, Australia
Alan J. Grodzinsky Center for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
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Articular cartilage is the smooth glistening white tissue, slippery to feel, that covers the surface of the diarthrodial joints. The functions of articular cartilage in joints are to reduce load per unit area and to provide a smooth, low-friction, and wear resistant bearing [1]. The composition and structural properties of cartilage allow it to achieve and maintain proper biomechanical function over the majority of a human lifespan [2]. Structurally, cartilage is a porous, fluidfilled, deformable material that is composed of cells (called chondrocytes), a fluid (predominantly water), and an ECM [3]. The ECM largely consists of collagen, proteoglycan, and small amounts of other molecules [4].
