Nanomechanics of Aggrecan: A New Perspective on Cartilage Biomechanics, Disease and Regeneration

Articular cartilage is a hydrated macromolecular composite mainly composed of type II collagen fibrils and the large proteoglycan, aggrecan. Aggrecan is a key determinant of the load bearing and energy dissipation functions of cartilage. Previously, studies of cartilage biomechanics have been primarily focusing on the macroscopic, tissue-level properties, which failed to elucidate the molecular-level activities that govern cartilage development, function, and disease. This chapter provides a brief summary of Dr. Alan J. Grodzinsky's seminal contribution to the understanding of aggrecan molecular mechanics at the nanoscopic level. By developing and applying a series of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanomechanical tools, Grodzinsky and colleagues revealed the unique structural and mechanical characteristics of aggrecan at unprecedented resolutions. In this body of work, the "bottle-brush"-like ultrastructure of aggrecan was directly visualized for the first time. Meanwhile, molecular mechanics of aggrecan was studied using a physiological-like 2D biomimetic assembly of aggrecan on multiple fronts, including compression, dynamic loading, shear, and adhesion. These studies not only generated new insights into the development, aging, and disease of cartilage, but established a foundation for designing and evaluating novel cartilage regeneration strategies. For example, building on the scientific foundation and methodology infrastructure established by Dr. Grodzinsky, recent studies have elucidated the roles of other proteoglycans in mediating cartilage integrity, such as decorin and perlecan, and evaluated the therapeutic potential of biomimetic proteoglycans in improving cartilage regeneration.