Quantitative micro-computed tomography for cartilage and joint mechanobiological measurement

This research aims to measure complex cartilage and joint mechanobiology, the dynamic interaction between cells and the physical factors, such as force, in their environment. This will be done by combining quantitative micro-computed tomography (microCT), image guided mechanical evaluation, and quantitative morphometric analysis. The aim is to combine these approaches into a single platform to provide longitudinal, quantitative, and in vivo measurement. Combining bone and cartilage imaging into a single modality is important since the two are tightly inter-regulated and communicate and respond to their loading environment among each other. To accomplish this, initial steps are to establish longitudinal contrast-enhanced CT protocols for use in time-lapse microCT imaging and integrate image-guided mechanical evaluation. This work will provide comprehensive all-in-one measurement of joint and cartilage mechanobiology. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Nikolai Dechev

Student:

Partner:

The University of Melbourne

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Victoria

Program: