Marie Plainfosse (PhD student 2005-2008)
Investigation of the tribological properties of tissue engineered cartilage
Articular cartilage is a specialised tissue responsible for the smooth and effortless quality of motion. The main functions of articular cartilage are to provide low friction between joint surfaces and protect the bones from high compressive loads. Natural cartilage is however sometimes subject to degradation and trauma and because it does not have a blood supply, its capacity for repair is relatively poor. Regenerative medicine today offers promising solutions in the repair and replacement of articular cartilage. It is now possible to develop cartilage in-vitro, with a composition and a structure relatively close to native cartilage. The frictional and mechanical properties however, still remain uncertain. The characterisation of these properties is highly important to understand the process of articular friction and to be able of implanting engineered tissue in the human body.
Supervisor(s): Paul Hatton, Aileen Crawford, John Fisher (University of Leeds) and Zhongmin Jin (University of Leeds)