Integrated microCT-uniaxial loading protocol to investigate the structure of biological fibrous tissues under increasing levels of strain

Hierarchical microstructure of load-bearing biological tissues is optimized for their specific ana-tomical position and inherent function [1]. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in human knee joint is a strong fibrous tissue that acts as a primary restrain against translations in the sagittal plane. When injured, ACL cannot self-repair and it is usually replaced by a biological graft via surgery. This study aimed to investigate the relation between structure and function in biological fibrous tissues, primary focusing on ACL. A deep knowledge of structure-function relationship - concern-ing both this ligament and the grafts commonly used to replace it - could explain possible altera-tions of joint biomechanics after surgery and support the development of optimized treatments. In order to achieve this objective, a dedicated setup was designed and developed to acquire the 3d volumetric fibrous microstructure of human ACL samples under increasing level of mechanical strain.