Characterizing Cartilage Function and Chondrocyte Mechanobiology
- Ongoing work led by Emily Lambeth investigates the underlying mechanism of synergistic lubrication. Via the cSCA explant configuration for tribomechanical testing, she characterizes the operational parameters modulating biofidelic cartilage lubrication.
- Previous work has investigated the behavioral parameters informing cartilage tribomechanics to inform clinically-relevant behavioral modifications for optimizing cartilage health and function.
- Modeling cartilage in healthy (Finite Element Models/Explant) and diseased (Degraded Explants/Impact Injury/PTOA-Induced Animals) states
- Characterizing chondrocyte response to dynamic cartilage testing
- Investigating synthetic control of mechanotransduction pathways to isolate pathway responses.
Understanding and Treating Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis
Our lab studies the pathogenesis of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) following joint injury, with a specific focus on the synovium and collagen changes that modulate the onset of joint degeneration. Employing a multifaceted approach, we utilize various platforms, including cell culture models, mouse models and cartilage explant samples, to identify key mediators involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of PTOA.
- Our grad student Shashika Gammanchiralage is currently working on inducing PTOA in murine joints using non-invasive overuse models such as axial compression of the knee and tibia. This research aims to characterize the onset of the PTOA in the joints and investigate the changes in the molecular markers within the articular cartilage.
- Previous work with our collaborators have shown that short synthetic peptides can be conjugated to form nano-vesicles that can actively target and bind onto diseased tissue and release entrapped drugs in response to changes in temperature. Ann Thomas is working on delivering these elastin-collagen nanovesicles (ECnVs) loaded with PTOA-modifying drugs to mice joints and study the therapeutic efficacy of this approach to enhance PTOA treatment strategies.
- Jenna Taylor is currently involved in the vitro analysis of ECnV cyto-compatibility on mouse chondrocytes and fibroblasts. Additionally her research probes into the effects of the drugs encapsulated in the ECnVs to mitigate injury-associated cellular responses, providing insights into refining PTOA treatment modalities.