Comparative Biophysical and Surface Property Analysis of Healthy and Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes

Chondrocytes are a primary cell type used in articular cartilage tissue engineering due to their ability to be applied autologously, minimizing the risk of immune rejection. However, isolated chondrocytes often exhibit heterogeneity, including mixtures of viable, dead, and dedifferentiated cells, which may impact their functional properties. In this study, the hydrophobicity and surface tension components of chondrocytes isolated from healthy and osteoarthritis (OA) donors were explored using a drop shape analyzer and Young's-Dupré equation over a 21 day culture period. The results indicate that OA-derived chondrocytes consistently exhibited higher water contact angles than healthy chondrocytes, with statistically significant differences observed on days 0, 7, and 14 of culture. The amounts of all three components of surface tension in healthy chondrocytes were significantly higher than those in OA-derived chondrocytes, except for van der Waals forces on day 0. Additionally, the observed modulation of chondrocyte hydrophobicity over the 21 day culture period indicates a potential functional phenotype shift from OA state toward a healthier phenotype under standard culture conditions. These results not only highlight hydrophobicity and surface tension as potential biomarkers for distinguishing OA and healthy chondrocytes, but also suggest possible therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring OA chondrocytes to a healthy state.