Shear‐Induced Aggregation of Mammalian Synovial Fluid Components under Boundary Lubrication Conditions

Abstract

The lubricating and structural properties of different mammalian synovial fluids in thin films undergoing shear between two mica surfaces are studied in detail using a surface force apparatus (SFA). A 10–13 nm thick film of synovial components (proteins, lipids, and polymers) adsorbs on the mica surfaces in less than an hour of incubation time, and induces a strong repulsion between the surfaces that prevents them from coming into contact. Upon shearing, the structure of the confined synovial fluid changes dramatically when sheared above a “critical” shear rate of about 2 s−1 (corresponding to approximately 40 nm s−1). Above this critical shear rate and up to at least 70 μm s−1, the proteins and biopolymers in the fluid gradually aggregate to form a homogenous gel layer on each mica surface. As shearing continues, the gel layer gradually breaks up into discrete/individual gel particles that can roll in the contact keeping the sheared surfaces far apart even under high compressive loads (pressure P ≈ 20 MPa). These particles eventually become elongated and finally behave as roller bearings. This mechanism is consistently observed for three mammalian synovial fluids and two types of surfaces suggesting that it actually occurs in articular joints and prostetic implants in vivo. The implications of these findings for joints and prosthetic implants structure and lubrication are discussed; in particular the formation and function of the lamina splendens.

Unraveling the Correlations between Conformation, Lubrication, and Chemical Stability of Bottlebrush Polymers at Interfaces

“…The amplitude of the sliding motion was set to 50 µm. The separation distance, D, wear initiation and surface contact area were simultaneously monitored during tribological experiments by continuously recording the FECO using a CCD camera 40 .…”

Intermolecular Interactions between Bottlebrush Polymers Boost the Protection of Surfaces against Frictional Wear

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Fibronectin mediates enhanced wear protection of lubricin during shear

“…Similar observations have been reported while shearing pure SF between mica surfaces in PBS. 32 This shear-induced phenomenon has been suggested to be a mechanism for the formation of the lamina splendens. ESF accumulation rather than damage to the underlying mica was indicated by intact odd fringes at all pressures and shearing velocities ( Figure 5D−F) and later confirmed by direct visualization of the mica surfaces (post shearing) using a microscope objective (no wear track visible, data not shown).…”