Comparative analysis of storage solutions on biomechanical properties of articular cartilage

Storage and preservation of articular cartilage are important in experimental studies. Various storage solutions were used, leading to conflicting results on the biomechanical properties of the cartilage. This study investigates the effects of different storage solutions, specifically normal saline and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), on the biomechanical properties of articular cartilage. Cartilage samples were extracted from bovine femoral heads and subjected to indentation testing after being stored in either solution. The results demonstrated that cartilage stored in normal saline exhibited significantly higher deformation at 0.14 mm compared to those stored in PBS at 0.10 mm, indicating a 40% reduction in resistance to compressive forces. Furthermore, the elastic modulus of cartilage in PBS was found to be 1.9 ± 0.5 MPa, significantly higher than the 1.0 ± 0.4 MPa recorded for normal saline, representing a 62% difference. Additionally, permeability was increased by 75% for cartilage stored in normal saline (3.3 ± 0.9 x 10-15m4/Ns) compared to PBS (1.5 ± 0.7 x 10-15m4/Ns). These findings highlight the critical impact of storage solutions on the mechanical integrity of cartilage, suggesting that PBS may be a more suitable option for preserving cartilage tissue for both research and clinical applications.