gold compound was reduced in the presence of lysozyme to form Lys-AuNPs or citrate-stabilized AuNPs were functionalized with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) to produce carboxylic acid terminated AuNPs which were mixed with lysozyme. Both solutions were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD), and enzymatic assays. Next, AuNPs were prepared on 99.5% titanium foil discs (n=32) through electroless deposition. Deposition parameters were modified to create two groups of discs with different average diameters of AuNPs, measured by scanning electron microscopy. Some discs from both groups also underwent treatment with MPA. All discs were treated with lysozyme and the adsorbed amounts and activities of lysozyme were examined with micro BCA and enzymatic assays.
To study the association between hip and ankle biomechanics during gait and moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA). Gait analysis was performed on a group of forty-four patients clinically diagnosed with moderate knee OA, and on a group of sixty asymptomatic subjects. Three-dimensional net joint angles and net joint reaction moments at the hip, knee and ankle joints were calculated. Peak values were extracted from the gait waveform patterns and compared between the two subject groups with Student’s t-tests. The peak hip extension moment, the peak hip adduction moment, the peak hip internal and external rotation moments, and the peak ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion moments were all reduced in the knee osteoarthritis population compared to the asymptomatic population. Differences in knee joint loading patterns with moderate knee osteoarthritis have been previously reported, but these data suggest that changes in the mechanical environment of all lower extremity joints are associated with early stages of knee osteoarthritis. Other studies have associated reduced peak hip adduction moments with reduced likelihood of OA progression. These data provide a rationale for hip abductor muscle strengthening as a means to lower knee joint loading.