Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T09:40:25.165Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Using Rheology to Probe the Mechanism of Joint Lubrication: Polyelectrolyte/protein interactions in Synovial Fluid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Katherine M. N. Oates
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PA 16802
Wendy E. Krause
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PA 16802
Ralph H. Colby
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PA 16802
Get access

Abstract

The outstanding lubricating properties of synovial fluid, found in freely moving mammalian joints, may be due to intermolecular associations between hyaluronic acid, an anionic polysaccharide, and the plasma proteins. A synovial fluid model comprised of hyaluronic acid and the plasma proteins albumin and γ-globulins, was constructed. Rheological measurements reveal a pronounced viscoelasticity with a strong shear history dependence for the synovial fluid model and the plasma protein solutions at low shear rates. The addition of the anti-inflammatory drug D-Penicillamine to the solution alters the rheology of the synovial fluid model. We present two ideas about the structural features of synovial fluid that may explain this viscoelasticity and suggest further experimental techniques that can be used to test these ideas.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Scott, J. E. and Heatley, F.. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96, 48504855 (1999).Google Scholar
2. Scott, J. E., Cummings, C., Greiling, H., Stuhlsatz, H. W., Gregory, J.D., and Damle, S. P., Int. J. of Biol. Macromol. 12, 180184 (1990).Google Scholar
3. Krause, W. E., Bellomo, E. G., and Colby, R. H., Biomacromolecules 2, 6569 (2001).Google Scholar
4. Fouissac, E., Milas, M., and Rinaudo, M., Macromolecules 26, 69456951 (1993).Google Scholar
5. Krause, W. E., Solution Dynamics of Synthetic and Natural Polyelectrolytes, Doctoral Dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University (2000).Google Scholar
6. Chatham, W. W. and Blackburn, W. D., in Arthritis and Allied Conditions, edited by Koopman, W. J., 13th edition (Williams and Wilkins, 1997) pgs 655670.Google Scholar
7. Boris, D. C.. Experimental Studies of Polyelectrolyte Solution Properties. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Rochester (1997).Google Scholar
8. Griffin, W. G., Griffin, M. C. A., Martin, S. R., and Price, J., J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 89(18), 33953406 (1983).Google Scholar
9. Burgess, D.J., in Biotechnology and Pharmacy edited by Pezzuto, J.M., Johnson, M.E., and Manasse, H. R., (Chapman and Hall, New York, 1993) p. 116.Google Scholar
10. Inoue, H., and Matsumoto, T., J. Rheol. 38(4), 973984 (July/Aug 1994).Google Scholar
11. Ikeda, S., and Nishinari, K., Biomacromolecules 1, 757763 (2000).Google Scholar
12. Xu, S., Ymanaka, J., Sato, S., Miyama, I., and Yonese, M., Chem Pharm. Bull. 48 (6), 779783 (2000).Google Scholar