Dear Amaresh,

When I had to do it, I use a stereoscopic microscope and forceps and scalpels to clean up the cartilage.

I'd rather focus on the femurs as the tibial plateau is flater than in the femur.

You can actually see the difference between the cartilage (smooth) and the bone which will contain the marrow (red) and present a structure a little more crumbly/spongy. You can then remove carefully the bone from the articular cartilage with the scalpel.

Depending what are your dowsntream application, you might want to do your dissection in a +4 PBS/FBS or PBS only.

At the end, it'll be important to rince off your explant to remove the eventual pieces of bones sticking to it.

Good luck!

Thanks you Dr. Bouderlique,

I have isolated AC from both the tibial and femur part, but the main problem I generally encounter is to remove the ligaments and skeletal muscle to isolate maximum possible purified AC only. I feel while removing ligament and muscle (Very slippery) there is possibility that I might be loosing AC ??

Is there a way by which I can assure that I have only isolated the AC not the ligaments or muscle part.

Please suggest.