生物启发的合成滑液的开发

The lubricant ability of synovial fluid's macromolecules, namely, aggrecan (AGG) and
lubricin (LUB) arises from their peculiar structures referred as bottle-brush (BB) polymers.
This unique architecture is due to the presence of specific features throughout the polymer
structure. A central protein backbone bears the highly hydrated pendant chains responsible for
the excellent frictional properties of the macromolecule. This behavior is attributed to the
repulsive hydration forces emerging from the hydrophilic sheaths of the pendant chains which
in turn allow the water molecules to keep an excellent fluidity around these sheaths. These
densely grafted pendant chains also limit their interdigitation due to the high steric hindrance.
Attachment groups are laterally linked to the central protein domain and allow
macromolecules self-assembling and retention at the contact keeping a low friction whatever
the lubrication regime. These specifications have been transcribed to biocompatible BB
polymers using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in order to envision these BB
polymers with as excellent tribological properties as natural counterparts to overcome
diseases due to AGG or LUB deficiency or specific degradation such as in osteoarthritis.