Non-invasive estimation of cartilage material properties is useful for understanding cartilage health and creating subject-specific computational models. Bi-component T2 mapping measured using Multi-Component Driven Equilibrium Single Shot Observation of T₁ and T₂ (mcDESPOT) is sensitive for detecting cartilage degeneration within the human knee joint, but has not been correlated with cartilage composition and mechanical properties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between bi-component T₂ parameters measured using mcDESPOT at 3.0 T and cartilage composition and mechanical properties. Ex-vivo patellar cartilage specimens harvested from five human cadaveric knees were imaged using mcDESPOT at 3.0 T. Cartilage samples were removed from the patellae, mechanically tested to determine linear modulus and dissipated energy, and chemically tested to determine proteoglycan and collagen content. Parameter maps of single-component T₂ relaxation time (T₂), the T₂ relaxation times of the fast relaxing macromolecular bound water component (T_2F) and slow relaxing bulk water component (T_2S), and the fraction of the fast relaxing macromolecular bound water component (F_F) were compared to mechanical and chemical measures using linear regression. F_F was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with energy dissipation and linear modulus. T₂ was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) correlated with elastic modulus at 1 Hz and energy dissipated at all frequencies. There were no other significant (p = 0.13–0.97) correlations between mcDESPOT parameters and mechanical properties. F_F was significantly (p = 0.04) correlated with proteoglycan content. There were no other significant (p = 0.19–0.92) correlations between mcDESPOT parameters and proteoglycan or collagen content. This study suggests that F_F measured using mcDESPOT at 3.0 T could be used to non-invasively estimate cartilage proteoglycan content, elastic modulus, and energy dissipation.

软骨材料特性的非侵入性估计有助于了解软骨健康和创建特定主题的计算模型。_{使用 T 1}和 T ₂的多分量驱动平衡单次观测(mcDESPOT) 测量的双分量 T2 映射对于检测人类膝关节内的软骨退变很敏感，但与软骨成分和机械性能无关。因此，本研究的目的是研究双组分 T _{2之间的关系。}使用 mcDESPOT 在 3.0 T 下测量的参数以及软骨成分和机械性能。使用 mcDESPOT 在 3.0 T 下对从五个人类尸体膝关节采集的离体髌骨软骨标本进行成像。从髌骨中取出软骨样品，进行机械测试以确定线性模量和耗散能量，并进行化学测试以确定蛋白多糖和胶原蛋白含量。单组分T ₂弛豫时间（T ₂）、快速弛豫大分子结合水组分（T _2F）和慢弛豫本体水组分（T _{2S ）的T 2}弛豫时间以及快速弛豫分数的参数图大分子结合水组分（F _F) 与使用线性回归的机械和化学测量值进行比较。F _F与能量耗散和线性模量显着相关（p < 0.05）。T ₂与 1 Hz 的弹性模量和所有频率下的能量消散显着相关（p ≤ 0.05）。mcDESPOT 参数和机械性能之间没有其他显着的相关性（p = 0.13-0.97）。F _F与蛋白多糖含量显着相关（p = 0.04）。mcDESPOT 参数与蛋白多糖或胶原蛋白含量之间没有其他显着的相关性（p = 0.19-0.92）。本研究表明 F _F使用 mcDESPOT 在 3.0 T 下测量可用于无创估计软骨蛋白多糖含量、弹性模量和能量耗散。