Decreased solute adsorption onto cracked surfaces of mechanically injured articular cartilage: towards the design of cartilage-specific functional contrast agents.

•We study solute adsorption to surfaces of injured, sliced and normal cartilage.•Adsorption at surfaces of fissures was significantly lower than at intact surfaces.•Solutes studied did not decrease the viability of chondrocytes.•New contrast agents may be developed based on differential solute adsorption.