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We analyzed the interaction between chemically grafted polysaccharide layers in aqueous solutions. To fabricate such layers, an end-terminated dextran silane coupling agent was synthesized and the polydextran was grafted to oxidized silicon wafers and to silica particles. This resulted in the formation of a 28 nm thick layer (in air) and a grafted amount of 40 mg/m(2) as determined by ellipsometry. The physical properties of the grafted layer were investigated in aqueous solutions by atomic force microscope imaging and colloidal probe force measurements. Surface and friction forces were measured between one bare and one polydextran coated silica surface. A notable feature was a bridging attraction due to affinity between dextran and the silica surface. Surface interactions and friction forces were also investigated between two surfaces coated with grafted polydextran. Repulsive forces were predominant, but nevertheless a high friction force was observed. The repulsive forces were enhanced by addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) that associates with the tethered polydextran layers. SDS also decreased the friction force. Our data suggests that energy dissipation due to shear-induced structural changes within the grafted layer is of prime importance for the high friction forces observed, in particular deformation of protrusions in the surface layer., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phospholipids and hyaluronan are two key biomolecules that contribute to the excellent lubrication of articular joints. Phospholipids alone and in combination with hyaluronan have also displayed low friction forces on smooth surfaces in micro- and nanosized tribological contacts. In an effort to develop aqueous-based lubrication systems, it is highly relevant to explore if these types of molecules also are able to provide efficient lubrication of macroscopic tribological contacts involving surfaces with roughness larger than the thickness of the lubricating layer. To this end, we investigated the lubrication performance of hyaluronan, the phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), and mixtures of these two components using glass surfaces in a mini-traction machine. We compared our data with those obtained using flat silica surfaces in previous atomic force microscopy studies, and we also highlighted insights on hyaluronan–phospholipid interactions gained from recent simulations. Our data demonstrate that hyaluronan alone does not provide any lubricating benefit, but DPPC alone and in mixtures with hyaluronan reduces the friction force by an order of magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial properties of two typesof mucins have been investigatedat the aqueous solution/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) interface.One is commercially available bovine submaxillary mucin, BSM, whichconsists of alternating glycosylated and nonglycosylated regions.The other one is a recombinant mucin-type fusion protein, PSGL-1/mIgG2b, consisting of a glycosylated mucin part fused to the Fcpart of an immunoglobulin. PSGL-1/mIgG2bis mainly expressedas a dimer upon production. A quartz crystal microbalance with dissipationwas used to study the adsorption of the mucins to PMMA surfaces. Themass of the adsorbed mucin layers, including the adsorbed mucin andwater trapped in the layer, was found to be significantly higher forPSGL-1/mIgG2bthan for BSM. Atomic force microscopy withcolloidal probe was employed to study interactions and frictionalforces between mucin-coated PMMA surfaces. Purely repulsive forcesof steric origin were observed between PSGL-1/mIgG2bmucinlayers, whereas a small adhesion was detected between BSM layers andattributed to bridging. Both mucin layers reduced the friction forcebetween PMMA surfaces in aqueous solution. The reduction was, however,significantly more pronounced for PSGL-1/mIgG2b. The effectivefriction coefficient between PSGL-1/mIgG2b-coated PMMAsurfaces is as low as 0.02 at low loads, increasing to 0.24 at thehighest load explored, 50 nN. In contrast, a friction coefficientof around 0.7 was obtained between BSM-coated PMMA surfaces. The largedifferences in interfacial properties for the two mucins are discussedin relation to their structural differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With this letter, we report how friction can be controlled by inducing physical bonds solely within a polyelectrolyte brush layer, while keeping repulsive interactions between the brush layer and the bare surface that slides above. Our results imply that the nature of the bare surface is of minor importance as long as the repulsive surface interaction is maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothesis Synovial surfaces are lubricated by biomolecular aggregates that act in synergy, and lubricin is one key biolubricant. Its molecular structure allows extensive hydration and this is conducive to its lubrication performance. However, in order to fullfil its lubrication function it needs to be anchored and oriented on the surface in a proper way. We suggest that cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is one of the biomolecules that promotes anchoring of lubricin in a fashion that facilitates lubrication. Experiments Weakly hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces were coated by COMP and lubricin, individually and in combinations. Adsorption was investigated using a quartz crystal microbalance, and friction between the biopolymer-coated surfaces was determined by employing the atomic force microscope-colloidal probe technique. Findings It was found that COMP facilitated firm directed attachment of lubricin in a manner that resulted in low friction forces, significantly lower than what was achieved when lubricin was directly adsorbed to PMMA. Evidently, COMP provides means for lubricin to attach strongly and in a favourable conformation for efficient lubrication of this surface. We suggest that our findings can be extrapolated to cartilage surfaces, where co-localization of COMP and lubricin has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phospholipids and hyaluronan have been implied to fulfil important roles in synovial joint lubrication. Since both components are present in synovial fluid, self-assembly structures formed by them should also be present. We demonstrate by small angle X-ray scattering that hyaluronan associates with the outer shell of dipalmitoylphophatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles in bulk solution. Further, we follow adsorption to silica from mixed hyaluronan/DPPC vesicle solution by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation measurements. Atomic Force Microscope imaging visualises the adsorbed layer structure consisting of non-homogeneous phospholipid bilayer with hyaluronan/DPPC aggregates on top. The presence of these aggregates generates a long-range repulsive surface force as two such surfaces are brought together. However, the aggregates are easily deformed, partly rearranged into multilayer structures and partly removed from between the surfaces under high loads. These layers offer very low friction coefficient (<0.01), high load bearing capacity (≈23 MPa), and self-healing ability. Surface bound DPPC/hyaluronan aggregates provide a means for accumulation of lubricating DPPC molecules on sliding surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phospholipids fulfill an important role in joint lubrication. They, together with hyaluronan and glycoproteins, are the biolubricants that sustain low friction between cartilage surfaces bathed in synovial fluid. In this work we have investigated how the friction force and load bearing capacity of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) bilayers on silica surfaces are affected by temperature, covering the temperature range 25–52 °C. Friction forces have been determined utilizing the AFM colloidal probe technique, which showed that DPPC bilayers are able to provide low friction forces over the whole temperature interval. However, the load bearing capacity is improved at higher temperatures. We interpret this finding as being a consequence of lower rigidity and higher self-healing capacity of the DPPC bilayer in the liquid disordered state compared to the gel state. The corresponding structure of solid supported DPPC bilayers at the silica–liquid interface has been followed using X-ray reflectivity measurements, which suggests that the DPPC bilayer is in the gel phase at 25 °C and 39 °C and in the liquid disordered state at 55 °C. Well-defined bilayer structures were observed for both phases. The deposited DPPC bilayers were also imaged using AFM PeakForce Tapping mode, and these measurements indicated a less homogeneous layer at temperatures below 37 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]