Mechanical Properties of Glycated Cracked Articular Cartilage Under Uniaxial and Cyclic Tensile Loading

In clinical diagnosis, diabetes, and arthritis were often considered independent, which leads to diabetics getting worse by ignoring early arthritis symptoms. Therefore, the fatigue damage mechanism of articular cartilage in a hyperglycemic environment must be clarified.

Under simulating physiological loads, this study delved into glycated cracked cartilage's fracture toughness and damage mechanism. Moreover, by introducing the glucose concentration as a crucial variable, a constitutive model of the ratcheting behavior of glycated cracked cartilage was established, which is utilized to predict the impacts of glycation on cartilage.

The glycation environment causes cartilage hardening, which, in turn, leads to a substantial 38.1% reduction in the initial strain required for crack extension, despite an enhancement in tensile strength. This observation was further supported by the study of dynamic mechanical behavior. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was noticed that this mechanistic change takes place after collagen fibers harden and adhere to one another in the glycation environment.

Overall, these results hold significant implications for understanding osteoarthritis (OA) in diabetic patients and for the development and protection strategies related to this condition. Therefore, once there are symptoms of cartilage discomfort, diabetic patients need to pay special attention to the moderation of exercise and joint protection compared to healthy people.