Establishment of preparation methods for in vitro models of articular cartilage superficial zone injury

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Articular cartilage superficial zone (SFZ) integrity is critical for joint lubrication and load distribution, supporting early intervention for cartilage preservation. Using porcine cartilage explants, we developed two controlled in vitro SFZ damage models: graded mechanical friction abrasion and targeted enzymatic digestion. Through multi-modal characterization, we quantified structural, mechanical, transport, and cellular changes linked to SFZ damage. Both physical and enzymatic models yielded reproducible, dose-dependent SFZ injury, with consistent baseline controls of intact, untreated cartilage. These standardized models enable mechanistic studies of early cartilage degeneration and support translational efforts for early detection, therapeutic testing, and localized delivery systems, advancing preclinical research for cartilage preservation and repair.