Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Characteristics of Dry Friction01:21

Characteristics of Dry Friction

Dry friction occurs when two solid surfaces slide against each other without any lubrication or fluid present. It causes resistance when pushing objects along a surface, like a gardener pushing a wheelbarrow. The force applied to move the cart causes dry friction between the wheel and the ground.
Before the wheelbarrow starts moving, the static frictional force acts tangentially to the contact surface, opposing the force that is about to induce the motion. This frictional force prevents the...
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.
Membrane Fluidity01:26

Membrane Fluidity

Membrane fluidity is explained by the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane, which describes the plasma membrane structure as a mosaic of components—including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates—that gives the membrane a fluid character.
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...
Two Components: Liquid–Liquid Systems01:27

Two Components: Liquid–Liquid Systems

A pressure-composition phase diagram explicitly describes the behavior of an ideal solution of two volatile liquids under varying pressures and compositions. A pressure-composition diagram has two main curves. The bubble point curve represents the plot of pressure versus liquid mole fraction. It indicates the pressure at which the first bubble of vapor forms from the liquid phase as the system pressure decreases.The dew point curve is the pressure versus vapor mole fraction. It indicates the...
Design Example: Deciding Thickness of Lubricating Fluid in a Shaft01:23

Design Example: Deciding Thickness of Lubricating Fluid in a Shaft

Effective lubrication between a rotating shaft and its bearing housing is essential in rotating machinery to minimize friction, wear, and energy loss. With carefully controlled thickness and viscosity, the lubricant layer prevents metal-to-metal contact, ensuring smooth operation.
To calculate the required thickness of the lubricant layer, the tangential velocity at the shaft's surface must first be determined. This velocity is calculated by converting the rotational speed to angular velocity...
The Fluid Mosaic Model01:34

The Fluid Mosaic Model

The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Polymer chain-length mediated regulation of liposome-bacteria interactions for selective targeting of gram-negative bacteria.

Journal of colloid and interface science·2026
Same author

Advancing physical virology through multiscale approaches-Insights from the 2025 FEBS|EMBO lecture course 'Physical Virology: across length scales'.

FEBS letters·2026
Same author

Biophysical approaches for studying viral entry.

FEBS letters·2026
Same author

Correction: Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Liuwei Dihuang Pill for Menopausal Syndrome: Protocol for a Prospective, Observational, Multicenter Cohort Study.

JMIR research protocols·2026
Same author

In Situ Characterization of the Hydration Structure at the Silica-Water Interface.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same author

Hyaluronic acid-phosphatidylcholine complexes as reductionist mimics of extracellular vesicle-mediated boundary lubrication in synovial joints.

Acta biomaterialia·2026
Same journal

Ambient stability and surface adhesion of 2D polyaramid nanofilms.

Faraday discussions·2026
Same journal

Spiers Memorial Lecture: Spin-mediated promotion of magnetic metal catalysts.

Faraday discussions·2026
Same journal

Helium spin-echo as a surface-sensitive probe of vibrational energy dissipation.

Faraday discussions·2026
Same journal

Near-infrared vibrational second harmonic generation: a new nonlinear interfacial vibrational spectroscopy.

Faraday discussions·2026
Same journal

CO on a Rh/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> single-atom catalyst: high-resolution infrared spectroscopy and near-ambient-pressure scanning tunnelling microscopy.

Faraday discussions·2026
Same journal

Evolution of size-selected Pt cluster catalysts on prototypical oxide supports.

Faraday discussions·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

A Friction Testing-Bioreactor Device for Study of Synovial Joint Biomechanics, Mechanobiology, and Physical Regulation
09:48

A Friction Testing-Bioreactor Device for Study of Synovial Joint Biomechanics, Mechanobiology, and Physical Regulation

Published on: June 2, 2022

Hydration lubrication: exploring a new paradigm.

Anastasya Gaisinskaya1, Liran Ma, Gilad Silbert

  • 1Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovrot, 76100, Israel.

Faraday Discussions
|January 5, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hydration lubrication, using fluid shells around charges, drastically reduces friction in water. This mechanism, observed in various systems, may explain low-friction movement in biological environments.

More Related Videos

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes
13:57

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes

Published on: December 24, 2014

Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures
07:23

Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures

Published on: November 14, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

A Friction Testing-Bioreactor Device for Study of Synovial Joint Biomechanics, Mechanobiology, and Physical Regulation
09:48

A Friction Testing-Bioreactor Device for Study of Synovial Joint Biomechanics, Mechanobiology, and Physical Regulation

Published on: June 2, 2022

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes
13:57

Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes

Published on: December 24, 2014

Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures
07:23

Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures

Published on: November 14, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Tribology
  • Surface Science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Friction reduction in aqueous media is crucial for many natural and engineered systems.
  • Hydration lubrication, involving fluid layers around charged species, offers a novel mechanism for low friction.
  • Understanding the limits and applications of hydration lubrication requires further experimental investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and characterize the phenomenon of hydration lubrication in aqueous systems.
  • To explore the efficacy of hydration lubrication across diverse materials and conditions.
  • To elucidate the fundamental principles governing extreme friction reduction via hydration shells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing a mica surface-force balance for precise friction measurements.
  • Examining lubrication by hydrated ions, surfactants, polyzwitterionic brushes, and phosphatidylcholine vesicles.
  • Quantifying friction coefficients and contact pressures under controlled experimental conditions.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated extremely low sliding friction coefficients, reaching as low as 10⁻⁴.
  • Achieved high mean contact pressures, up to 17 MPa and beyond, while maintaining lubrication.
  • Confirmed hydration lubrication across multiple systems, including ionic, surfactant, and biomimetic interfaces.

Conclusions:

  • Hydration lubrication is a viable mechanism for achieving ultra-low friction in aqueous environments.
  • The findings suggest that hydration lubrication may be fundamental to low-friction biological processes.
  • This research expands the understanding of lubrication mechanisms and their potential applications.