Pivoting sports expose athletes to a high risk of knee injuries, mainly due to mechanical overloading of the joint which shatters overall tissue integrity. The present study explored the magnitude of tibiofemoral contact forces (TFCF) in high-risk dynamic tasks. A novel musculoskeletal model with modifiable frontal plane knee alignment was developed to estimate the total, medial, and lateral TFCF developed during vigorous activities. Thirty-one competitive soccer players performing deceleration and 90° sidestepping tasks were assessed via 3D motion analysis by using a marker-based optoelectronic system and TFCF were assessed via OpenSim software. Statistical parametric mapping was used to investigate the effect of frontal plane alignment, compartment laterality, and varus–valgus genu on TFCF. Further, in consideration of specific risk factors, sex influence was also assessed. A strong correlation (R = 0.71 ÷ 0.98, p < 0.001) was found between modification of compartmental forces and changes in frontal plane alignment. Medial and lateral TFCF were similar throughout most of the tasks with the exception of the initial phase, where the lateral compartment had to withstand to higher loadings (1.5 ÷ 3 BW higher, p = 0.010). Significant sex differences emerged in the late phase of the deceleration task. A comprehensive view of factors influencing the mediolateral distribution of TFCF would benefit knee injury prevention and rehabilitation in sport activities.

Smart hydrogels embedding mesenchymal stromal cells are receiving increasing attention as a potential solution for preventing articular cartilage degeneration in knee osteoarthritis (OA). In this work we demonstrate that an injectable piezoelectric hydrogel embedding autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs), stimulated by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), is effective in reducing knee OA in two preclinical surgically induced OA models. A medium-sized rabbit model was used to evaluate sex differences in treatment efficacy, while a large-sized sheep model was employed to assess the translatability of this innovative approach to a scenario with similarities to human conditions. We developed computational models to ensure reliable and precise delivery of a specific ultrasound dose to the target, modelling wave propagation through tissues and considering the anatomy of the two experimental animal models. Sex-based differences in therapy effectiveness were observed in rabbits, with better macroscopic and microscopic outcomes in counteracting OA in female animals. Furthermore, we found that the combination of ASC-laden piezoelectric hydrogel and LIPUS can be scaled in a large-sized sheep model, proving effective in counteracting OA.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear represents a common orthopedic traumatic issue that often leads to an early development of osteoarthritis. To improve the diagnostic and prognostic techniques involved in the assessment of the joint after the trauma and during the healing process, the present work proposes a multi-parametric approach that aims to investigate the relationship between joint function and soft tissue status before and after ACL reconstruction. Methods: Thirteen consecutive patients who underwent ACL reconstruction were preliminarily enrolled in this study. Joint laxity assessment as well as magnetic resonance imaging with T2 mapping were performed in the pre-operative stage, at four and 18 months after surgery to acquire objective information to correlate knee function and soft tissue condition. Results: Correlations were found between graft and cartilage T2 signal, suggesting an interplay between these tissues within the knee joint. Moreover, graft maturation resulted in being connected to joint laxity, as underlined by the correlation between the graft T2 signal and the temporal evolution of knee function. Conclusions: This preliminary study represents a step forward in assessing the effects of ACL graft maturation on knee biomechanics, and vice versa. The presented integrated framework underlines the possibility to quantitatively assess the impact of ACL reconstruction on trauma recovery and cartilage homeostasis. Moreover, the reported findings—despite the preliminary nature of the clinical impacts—evidence the possibility of monitoring the surgery outcomes using a multi-parametric prognostic investigation tool.

In this work, an interdisciplinary approach was employed to investigate the impact on thermoplastic catheters from the deposition of a thin (180 nm), metallic silver film by a pulsed ablation technique. Our characterization firstly involved tensile and bending tests, each one accompanied by finite element modeling aiming to elucidate the contributions resulting from bulk and coating to the device’s mechanical behavior. The morphological assessment of the surface before and after the deposition was performed by atomic force microscopy, specifically implemented to visualize the nanostructured character of the film surface and the extent to which the polymer was modified by the deposition process, focusing on coating delamination due to tensile stress. Finally, thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis was carried out to evaluate whether silver deposition has affected the physiochemical structure of the polymer matrix. Our results establish that the deposition does not significantly alter the physical and chemical properties of the device. The presented characterization sets a useful precedent for elucidating how structural properties of polymeric materials may change after coating by electronic ablation techniques, highlighting the importance of employing a comprehensive approach for clarifying the effects of additive manufacturing on medical devices.

Several studies demonstrated the efficacy of post-mortem extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on donors in preserving organ function addressing organ transplantation. Nevertheless, no common and shared evidence was reached about the possibility of using ECMO donors in tissue harvesting. Therefore, this work aimed first to review the current scientific literature about ECMO donors, and then to focus on the use of ECMO tissues as allografts, mainly addressing musculoskeletal tissues, which are of the most interest for reconstruction. A search was conducted on the current scientific literature, focusing on the keywords “ECMO” and “Donor”. Several online databases were used, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. From the preliminary search, 478 articles were obtained, out of which 173 specifically reported the use of ECMO for donation and transplantation purposes. Literature reported extensive analyses of ECMO organs—overall from the abdomen—both in pre- and post-transplantation studies. On the other hand, ECMO tissues were explanted only in a very limited number of cases; moreover, no information was referred about their status and use. A revision of the current scientific literature highlighted the lack of information concerning ECMO tissues and the necessity to perform preclinical, ex vivo studies to compare allografts from ECMO donors, with respect to standard donors, and, thus, to verify whether they can be harvested and implanted safely and with efficacy.