Synovial Lubrication Factors‐Recruiting Biomimetic Polyphenolized Hyaluronic Acid for Promoting Cartilage Repair

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease characterized by continuous detachment of lubrication factors from damaged cartilage matrix. This study proposes a paradigm that combines natural polyanionic polysaccharides (hyaluronic acid, HA) with dopamine (DA) to design a synovial lubrication factors‐recruiting biomimetic polyphenolized lubrication system. The biomimetic lubricants can use DA's polarity and hydrophilic groups as specific binding sites of type II collagen's polarity and hydrophilic groups to stably bind cartilage surface, and further utilize molecular specific interaction to recruit detached, joint endogenous or chondrocytes expressed synovial lubrication factors, continuously forming supramolecular lubrication complex onto cartilage matrix to induce joint lubrication. Simultaneously, the biolubricants can also utilize catechol groups to eliminate anionic free radicals and resist reactive oxygen species invasion in the early stages of joint lubrication failure. The prepared biolubricants exhibit low coefficient of friction (µ < 0.08), which is attributed to fluid and hydration lubrication provided by HA and DA side chains through fluid dynamic effect and interfacial hydration adsorption. Cell and animal experiments also demonstrate polyphenolic biolubricants have good biocompatibility and promote cartilage regeneration. Therefore, the developed synovial lubricants‐recruiting biomimetic polyphenolized biolubricants have potential for treating osteoarthritis, and also provide a theoretical basis for other biological tissues with lubrication problems.