Direct Quantification of Solute Diffusivity in Agarose and Articular Cartilage Using Correlation Spectroscopy

摘要: Articular cartilage is an avascular tissue; diffusive transport critical for its homeostasis. While numerous techniques have been used to quantify diffusivity within porous, hydrated tissues and tissue engineered constructs, these suffered from issues regarding invasiveness spatial resolution. In the present study, we implemented compared two separate correlation spectroscopy techniques, fluorescence (FCS) raster image (RICS), direct, minimally-invasive quantification of fluorescent solute diffusion in agarose articular cartilage. Specifically, quantified diffusional properties fluorescein Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated dextrans (3k 10k) aqueous solutions, gels varying concentration (i.e. 1, 3, 5%), different zones juvenile bovine explants superficial, middle, deep). agarose, obtained via FCS RICS were inversely related molecule size, gel concentration, applied strain. cartilage, solutes similarly dependent upon zone, compressive strain; findings that agree with work utilizing other techniques. conclusion, this study established utility as simple minimally invasive quantifying microscale constructs explants.