Interactions of Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Macromolecules.

Articular cartilage is a low-friction, load-bearing tissue located at joint surfaces. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of cartilage consists of a fibrous collagen network, which is pre-stressed by the osmotic swelling pressure exerted by negatively charged proteoglycan aggregates embedded in the collagen network. The major proteoglycan is the bottlebrush shaped aggrecan, which forms complexes with linear hyaluronic acid chains. We quantify microscopic and macroscopic changes resulting from self-assembly between aggrecan and hyaluronic acid using a complementary set of physical measurements to determine structure and interactions by combining scattering techniques, including small-angle X-ray scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, and dynamic light scattering with macroscopic osmotic pressure measurements. It is demonstrated that the osmotic pressure that defines the load bearing ability of cartilage is primarily governed by the main macromolecular components (aggrecan and collagen) of the ECM. Knowledge of the interactions between the macromolecular components of cartilage ECM is essential to understand biological function and to develop successful tissue engineering strategies for cartilage repair.