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Controlled‐Potential Electromechanical Reshaping of Cartilage
Author(s) -
Hunter Bryan M.,
Kallick Jeremy,
Kissel Jessica,
Herzig Maya,
Manuel Cyrus,
Protsenko Dmitri,
Wong Brian J. F.,
Hill Michael G.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201600856
Subject(s) - cartilage , electrochemistry , ionic bonding , materials science , rigidity (electromagnetism) , matrix (chemical analysis) , glycosaminoglycan , proteoglycan , electrode , biomedical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , biophysics , composite material , anatomy , ion , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , medicine
An alternative to conventional “cut‐and‐sew” cartilage surgery, electromechanical reshaping (EMR) is a molecular‐based modality in which an array of needle electrodes is inserted into cartilage held under mechanical deformation by a jig. Brief (ca. 2 min) application of an electrochemical potential at the water‐oxidation limit results in permanent reshaping of the specimen. Highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans within the cartilage matrix provide structural rigidity to the tissue through extensive ionic‐bonding networks; this matrix is highly permselective for cations. Our studies indicate that EMR results from electrochemical generation of localized, low‐pH gradients within the tissue: fixed negative charges in the proteoglycan matrix are protonated, resulting in chemically induced stress relaxation of the tissue. Re‐equilibration to physiological pH restores the fixed negative charges, and yields remodeled cartilage that retains a new shape approximated by the geometry of the reshaping jig.