Exploration of imaging method of degenerate articular cartilage based on EPIC micro-CT

This study explored appropriate method for imaging and detecting early degenerate articular cartilage based on contrast-enhanced Micro-CT. 12 normal articular cartilage samples were prepared from bovine knee. They were immersed in PBS dilutions with specified concentration (20%, 30% and 40% the ionic Meglumine diatrizoate) at 37°C, and were scanned by the Micro-CT every two hours respectively. Another 6 cartilage samples were digested by trypsin and scanned by contrast-enhanced Micro-CT. For all the AC samples, the X-ray attenuation coefficient of each group reached balance after incubated for 4h in the contrast agent solution. The Micro-CT scanning results showed that the composition and structure of cartilage samples treated with 20% were easier to observe. As the degradation time increased, the degradation degree increased. Under the water bath at 37°C, the samples can be well imaged via Micro-CT after incubated for more than 4h in 20% contrast agent concentration. It was effective to detect the early degradation by imaging the digested cartilage samples with contrast-enhanced Micro-CT.