Publication detail

The effect of synovial fluid composition, speed and load on frictional behaviour of articular cartilage

FURMANN, D. NEČAS, D. REBENDA, D. ČÍPEK, P. VRBKA, M. KŘUPKA, I. HARTL, M.

Original Title

The effect of synovial fluid composition, speed and load on frictional behaviour of articular cartilage

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Articular cartilage ensures smooth motion of natural synovial joints operating at very low friction. However, number of patients suffering from joint diseases, usually associated with cartilage degradation, continuously increases. Therefore, an understanding of cartilage tribological behaviour is of great interest in order to minimize its degradation, preserving the reliable function of the joints. The aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive comparison of frictional behaviour of articular cartilage, focusing on the effect of synovial fluid composition (i), speed (ii), and load (iii). The experiments were realized using pin-on-plate tribometer with reciprocating motion. The articular cartilage pin was loaded against smooth glass plate while the tests consisted of loading and unloading phases in order to enable cartilage rehydration. Various model fluids containing albumin, γ-globulin, hyaluronic acid, and phospholipids were prepared in two different concentrations simulating physiologic and osteoarthritic synovial fluid. Two different speeds, 5 mm/s and 10 mm/s were applied and the tests were carried out under 5 N and 10 N. It was found that protein based solutions exhibit nearly no difference in friction coefficient, independently of the concentration of the constituents. However, the behaviour is considerably changed when adding hyaluronic acid and phospholipids. Especially when interacting with γ-globulin, friction coefficient decreased substantially. In general, an important role of the interaction of fluid constituents was observed. On the other hand, a limited effect of speed was detected for most of the model fluids. Finally, it was shown that elevated load leads to lower friction which well corresponds to previous observations. Further study should concentrate on specific explored phenomena focusing on the detailed statistical evaluation.

Keywords

Biotribology; articular cartilage; coefficient of friction; tribological properties; synovial fluid

Authors

FURMANN, D.; NEČAS, D.; REBENDA, D.; ČÍPEK, P.; VRBKA, M.; KŘUPKA, I.; HARTL, M.

Released

15. 3. 2020

Publisher

MDPI

Location

Basilej, Švýcarsko

ISBN

1996-1944

Periodical

Materials

Year of study

13

Number

6

State

Swiss Confederation

Pages from

1

Pages to

16

Pages count

16

URL

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/6/1334

Full text in the Digital Library

http://hdl.handle.net/11012/186580

BibTex

@article{BUT162725,
  author="FURMANN, D. and NEČAS, D. and REBENDA, D. and ČÍPEK, P. and VRBKA, M. and KŘUPKA, I. and HARTL, M.",
  title="The effect of synovial fluid composition, speed and load on frictional behaviour of articular cartilage",
  journal="Materials",
  year="2020",
  volume="13",
  number="6",
  pages="1--16",
  doi="10.3390/ma13061334",
  issn="1996-1944",
  url="https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/6/1334"
}