MechE Colloquium: Soft Tissues Dissipation & Hydrogels for Medical Applications

This lecture by Prof. Dominique Pioletti from EPFL's Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopedics delves into the concept of dissipation, its importance in material development, and its impact on chondrocytes behavior. The presentation covers in vivo quantification of temperature increase in cartilage, effects of temperature on chondrocytes, and thermomechanical influences. It explores the development of hydrogels for medical applications, focusing on the control of energy dissipation and interfacial interactions. The lecture concludes with discussions on dissipation mechanisms, fatigue resistance, and the synergetic effect of material dissipation and bonding in hydrogels.