Speaker: Gerard A. Ateshian, Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University

Gerard A. Ateshian is Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. His research interests have evolved from diarthrodial joint kinematics, contact and quantitative anatomy, to the mechanics and tribology of articular cartilage at the macroscopic and microscopic levels, in relation to osteoarthritis and joint degenerative disease. His research combines experimental and theoretical techniques, using the framework of the theory of mixtures. More recently, he has extended his research to the field of cartilage tissue engineering, particularly with regard to the effects of dynamic loading on tissue matrix elaboration and solute transport. His latest research includes modeling of chondrocyte response to mechano-electrochemical loading using mixture theory.

Presentation Abstract:

Articular cartilage is the bearing material of diarthrodial joints. Its main function is to transmit loads across musculoskeletal joints while maintaining low friction and wear. Cartilage normally operates at high contact stresses, low rolling and sliding velocities, and under intermittent or cyclical motion. Despite these adverse conditions, its tribological properties are remarkable, and intimately related to its porous-hydrated nature. Cartilage exhibits anisotropy, inhomogeneity, and tension-compression nonlinearity. Its interstitial fluid contains electrolytes and its solid matrix, consisting mostly of collagen and proteoglycans, is charged. Consequently, predicting the mechano-electrochemical response of cartilage represents a major modeling challenge, which needs to be met by equally challenging experimental validations. This presentation summarizes some of our latest findings in this field.