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2015 Oct-Dec; Vol 6, No 4:e3 |
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Mechanobiological Assessment of TMJ Disc Surfaces: Nanoindentation and Transmission Electron Microscopy J Oral Maxillofac Res 2015;6(4):e3 doi:10.5037/jomr.2015.6403 |
Mechanobiological Assessment of TMJ Disc Surfaces: Nanoindentation and Transmission Electron Microscopy
1J. Crayton Pruitt Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, United States.
2Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, United States.
Corresponding Author:
J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Florida
Biomedical Sciences Building JG46, PO Box 116131, Gainesville, FL 32611- 6131
United States
Phone: (352) 273 9325
Fax: (352) 373 9221
E-mail: pmcfetridge@bme.ufl.edu
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Temporomandibular disc is a mechanically robust fibrocartilage tissue exhibiting highly elastic compressive, shear, and tensile moduli with structurally dense extracellular matrix that supports functional loading of the joint. The aim of this study was to illustrate structural complexities of the superior and inferior disc surfaces, to demonstrate the robust mechanical ability of the disc as a whole may be due to depth-dependent regional/layered variation, and also to provide characterization data imperative for future tissue engineering efforts focused on restoring function to the joint.
Material and Methods: Nanoindentation was used to assess tissue zones in conjunction with detailed Transmission Electron Microscopy to define structural attributes that influence the temporomandibular disc function.
Results: The disc architecture adjacent to the superior surface was shown to have three distinct regional segments within the interface layer: 1-a surface peripheral layer; 2-subsurface region; and 3-a layer of helical matrix bundles. The inferior surface displayed an interface layer (20 µm) that showed limited cell populations with little depth-dependent structural variation, a stiffer elastic modulus and reduced energy dissipation compared to the superior surface. These data indicate that the primary function of the inferior surface is resistance to compression rather than load distribution during joint motion.
Conclusions: These are the first works that demonstrate that the superior central surface of the he temporomandibular disc is structured in depth-dependent isometric layers, each of which provides different mechanical function supporting the bulk tissue’s properties. From a clinical perspective these data have potential to define regions susceptible to fatigue that may translate to diagnostic criteria to better define the stages of dysfunction.
J Oral Maxillofac Res 2015;6(4):e3
doi: 10.5037/jomr.2015.6403
Accepted for publication: 14 December 2015
Keywords: electrons; extracellular matrix; fibrocartilage; microscopy; temporomandibular joint; tissue engineering.
To cite this article: Mechanobiological Assessment of TMJ Disc Surfaces: Nanoindentation and Transmission Electron Microscopy J Oral Maxillofac Res 2015;6(4):e3 URL: http://www.ejomr.org/JOMR/archives/2015/4/e3/v6n4e3ht.htm |
Received: 6 October 2015 | Accepted: 14 December 2015 | Published: 31 December 2015
Copyright: © The Author(s). Published by JOMR under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 licence, 2015.