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SUMMARY:Multi-scale Mechanics in Tendon: Understanding Structure-Function 
 Optimisation - Dr Hazel Screen\, Institute of Bioengineering\, Queen Mary\
 , University of London
DTSTART:20121204T193000Z
DTEND:20121204T210000Z
UID:TALK41652@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Geoff Hale
DESCRIPTION:Tendon plays a fundamental role in locomotion\, facilitating e
 nergy efficient movement. However\, not all tendons perform the same funct
 ion\, and the roles of our different tendons vary significantly.  Energy s
 toring tendons such as the Achilles must be highly extensible and elastic\
 , to help us move efficiently\, and to provide energy to help with locomot
 ion. Such a function is not necessary in positional tendons\, such as the 
 digital extensor tendons of the hand. Here\, accurate and careful position
 ing of the fingers is required\, with a tendon that provides some dampenin
 g and can modulate muscle contraction (1).\n \nAll tendons are composed of
  the same hierarchical collagen arrangement\, so to meet these disparate f
 unctional requirements\, structural and compositional optimisation is requ
 ired. Research in our group has focused on characterising the mechanisms b
 y which different types of tendon function to transfer load\, looking for 
 mechanistic differences between tendons. Our data indicate that tendon ext
 ension and recoil relies on a series of hierarchical extension mechanisms 
 all working together\, with sliding between adjacent collagen units and ro
 tation of helically arranged fascicles. However\, we have evidence that di
 fferent types of tendons utilise these mechanisms differently. More highly
  loaded energy storing tendons showing less sliding between structural uni
 ts and behave more like springs. By contrast\, positional tendons\, which 
 are more viscoelastic in nature\, relying more heavily on sliding between 
 fibres and fibrils for extension (2).\n \nWith a prevalence of tendinopath
 y in energy storing tendons\, we are now interested to establish if the te
 ndency towards damage is associated with the degree of specialisation. We 
 are also looking to understand the cell environment within these different
  tendons\, to see if mechanotransduction cues differ. Long term\, we hope 
 these data will provide insights into functional specialisation across a r
 ange of aligned fibrous tissues\, subsequently guiding efforts towards rep
 air and regeneration. We have recently developed a novel fibre composite m
 aterial for tendon mechanobiology research\, able to apply specific and co
 ntrollable levels of shear and tension to tenocytes. Our preliminary data 
 indicates that a shear environment modulates the mechanotransduction respo
 nse of the cells\, potentially providing us with insights into how cells m
 ay control the homeostasis of different types of tendon (3).\n\n(1) Birch 
 HL Int J Exp Pathol 2007\, 88\; 241-8\n\n(2) Thorpe CT et al J Roy Soc Int
  2012\n\n(3) Screen et al Adv Funct Mat 2010\, 20\; 1-20\n
LOCATION:Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy\, New Museums Site
 \, Pembroke Street\, Cambridge CB2 3QZ
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