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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Orthop Res / Polyacrylamide hydrogel lubricates cartilage after biochemic...
Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society2022; 41(1); 63-71; doi: 10.1002/jor.25340

Polyacrylamide hydrogel lubricates cartilage after biochemical degradation and mechanical injury.

Abstract: Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid have been a mainstay of osteoarthritis treatment for decades. However, controversy surrounds the mechanism of action and efficacy of this therapy. As such, there has been recent interest in developing synthetic lubricants that lubricate cartilage. Recently, a synthetic 4 wt% polyacrylamide (pAAm) hydrogel was shown to effectively decrease lameness in horses. However, its mechanism of action and ability to lubricate cartilage is unknown. The goal of this study was to characterize the lubricating ability of this hydrogel and determine its efficacy for healthy and degraded cartilage. The study utilized previously established IL-1β-induced biochemical degradation and mechanical impact injury models to degrade cartilage. The lubricating ability of the hydrogel was then characterized using a custom-built tribometer using a glass counterface and friction was evaluated using the Stribeck framework for articular cartilage. pAAm hydrogel was shown to significantly lower the friction coefficient of cartilage explants from both degradation models (30%-40% reduction in friction relative to controls). A striking finding from this study was the aggregation of the pAAm hydrogel at the articulating surface. The surface aggregation was observed in the histological sections of explants from all treatment groups after tribological evaluation. Using the Stribeck framework, the hydrogel was mapped to higher Sommerfeld numbers and was characterized as a viscous lubricant predominantly in the minimum friction mode. In summary, this study revealed that pAAm hydrogel lubricates native and degraded cartilage explants effectively and may have an affinity for the articulating surface of the cartilage.
© 2022 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Publication Date: 2022-04-20 PubMed ID: 35384042DOI: 10.1002/jor.25340Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research explored how polyacrylamide (pAAm) hydrogel, a synthetic material, can serve as a lubricant for both healthy and damaged cartilage. The study found this hydrogel effectively reduced the friction of cartilage explants subjected to different types of degradation by 30-40%, suggesting potential benefits for osteoarthritis treatment.

Objective and Methodology

  • The main aim of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of pAAm hydrogel in lubricating cartilage, particularly those that have undergone degradation.
  • Two types of cartilage degradation models were used – one induced by Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), which caused biochemical degradation, and the other through mechanical impact injury.
  • The study used a custom-built tribometer to test the lubricating capability of the hydrogel. A tribometer is a device used to measure the friction between two surfaces.

Key Findings

  • pAAm hydrogel succeeded in significantly reducing the friction coefficient of cartilage explants from both degradation models by around 30-40% compared to the controls.
  • Apart from its friction-reducing capability, the hydrogel showed a tendency to aggregate at the articulating surface of the cartilage. This was observed across all the treatment groups.
  • Utilizing the Stribeck framework, which is a model to understand lubrication dynamics, the research depicted the hydrogel as a viscous lubricant, primarily effective in conditions where minimum friction is desired.

Implications

  • The research indicates that pAAm hydrogel could be a viable synthetic lubricant for both healthy and degraded cartilage. Its ability to adhere to the articulating surface of the cartilage might be beneficial in effectively reducing friction.
  • Given the ongoing debates on the effectiveness and action mechanism of traditional osteoarthritis treatments like intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, the findings from this research suggest that synthetic lubricants like pAAm hydrogel could open up new avenues for osteoarthritis treatment.
  • However, the exact effect and mechanism of pAAm hydrogel on various types of cartilage need further exploration.

Cite This Article

APA
Vishwanath K, McClure SR, Bonassar LJ. (2022). Polyacrylamide hydrogel lubricates cartilage after biochemical degradation and mechanical injury. J Orthop Res, 41(1), 63-71. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.25340

Publication

Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
ISSN: 1554-527X
NlmUniqueID: 8404726
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 1
Pages: 63-71

Researcher Affiliations

Vishwanath, Karan
  • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
McClure, Scott R
  • Midwest Equine Surgery and Sports Medicine, Boone, Iowa, USA.
Bonassar, Lawrence J
  • Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
  • Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cartilage / injuries
  • Horses
  • Hydrogels

Grant Funding

  • NIH S10OD018516 / NIH HHS

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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