Abstract
In this paper, effects of tribological stimulations for tissue regeneration on the expression of tribological functions were investigated. Chondrocyte-fibroin constructs were cultured by using the stirring chamber, which can apply tribological movement to the surface of the specimens. Five culture conditions were prepared by the combination of static incubation (S) and stirring culture (D) as follows: S-, D-, SS-, DS- and DD-culture group. From the results of friction tests, it was found that the friction durability in DS-culture group was significantly improved, compared to that in the other groups. However, there was not a significant difference in glycosaminoglycan content between DS-culture and DD-culture group. These results would indicate that the evaluation of tribological performances on regenerated cartilage tissues is not always consistent with the synthesis of extracellular matrix, and that the tribological movement in the pre-conditioning period induces the functional expression and the post-conditioning static incubation can reinforce the effect. Long-term tribological movement, however, has a potential to induce detrimental effects on the surface properties of the regenerated tissues. These findings would be useful information for a clinical application of tissue-engineered cartilage and for an elucidation of the mechanism on a formation of tribological performances in cartilage.
