Direct Mapping of Cytomechanical Homeostasis Destruction in Osteoarthritis Based on Silicon Nanopillar Array.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint degenerative disease characterized by chronic joint inflammation. The pathogenesis of OA has not been fully elucidated yet. Cartilage erosion is the most significant pathological feature in OA, which is considered as the result of the cytomechanical homeostasis destruction. The cytomechanical homeostasis is maintained by the dynamic interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix, which can be reflected by cell traction force (CTF). It is critical to assess the CTF for providing a deeper understanding of the cytomechanical homeostasis destruction and progression in OA. In this study, a silicon nanopillar array (Si-NP) with high spatial resolution and aspect ratio is fabricated to investigate the CTF in response to OA. We discover the CTF is degraded in OA, which is attributed to the F-actin reorganization induced by the activation of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. Si-NP also show promising potential as a mechanopharmacological assessment platform for OA drug screening and evaluation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.