Spatial Characterization of the Human Meniscus: Bridging Biomechanics and Biochemistry Using Atomic Force Microscopy...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Meniscus biomechanical properties are influenced by microscale composition and macromolecular distribution.
• Local mechanical properties of the meniscus are largely determined by its chemical composition.
• A direct link between the spatial biomechanical and biochemical characteristics of the meniscus at the microscale is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a multimodal imaging approach for fresh frozen tissue.
• To link biomechanical and biochemical readouts from the same tissue section.
• To enable direct correlative comparison across nano- to micrometer length scales.

Main Methods:

• Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) micro-indentation for biomechanical mapping.
• Employed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) for biochemical profiling.
• Consecutively applied both imaging modalities on the same human meniscus cryosections.

Main Results:

• Provided spatial distribution information of collagen and other proteins within human meniscus cryosections.
• Correlated the distribution of proteins with zones exhibiting different apparent elasticity.
• Demonstrated the ability to link nano- to micrometer scale biomechanical and biochemical data.

Conclusions:

• The multimodal imaging approach successfully links local meniscus composition to micromechanics.
• This methodology offers a promising tool for understanding meniscus degeneration.
• The technique has potential for detecting meniscus degeneration biomarkers and linking them to clinical imaging.