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Related Concept Videos

Structural Joints: Synovial Joints01:16

Structural Joints: Synovial Joints

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Synovial joints are the most common type of joint in the body. A key structural characteristic for a synovial joint is the presence of a joint cavity. This fluid-filled space is where the articulating surfaces of the bones contact each other. Also, unlike fibrous or cartilaginous joints, the articulating bone surfaces at a synovial joint are not directly connected to each other with fibrous connective tissue or cartilage. This gives the bones of a synovial joint the ability to move smoothly...
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Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue01:27

Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue

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Chondrocytes form a temporary cartilaginous model by dividing and secreting a thick gel-like extracellular matrix. Once the chondrocytes undergo programmed cell death, osteoblasts enter the site of the cartilaginous model. The process of replacing the temporary cartilaginous model with bone in an ordered manner is called endochondral ossification. In endochondral ossification, not all of the cartilage is replaced by bone tissue. Some cartilage that performs a protective and supportive function...
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Structural Joints: Cartilaginous Joints01:17

Structural Joints: Cartilaginous Joints

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As the name indicates, at a cartilaginous joint, the adjacent bones are united by cartilage, a tough but flexible type of connective tissue. Unlike synovial joints, these types of joints lack a joint cavity and involve bones joined together by either hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage.
There are two types of cartilaginous joints:
Synchondrosis
A synchondrosis ("joined by cartilage") is a cartilaginous joint where bones are connected by hyaline cartilage. Synchondrosis may be temporary...
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Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

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Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
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Glycosaminoglycans01:23

Glycosaminoglycans

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Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), also known as mucopolysaccharides, are long and linear polymers comprising of specific repeating disaccharides - the amino sugar that can be N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine, and a uronic acid that is usually glucuronic acid or iduronic acid.
GAGS are found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, invertebrates, and bacteria. Due to their polar nature they attract water, and serve as excellent lubricants or shock absorbers in an animal body.
Hyaluronic...
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Joints01:26

Joints

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Joints, also called articulations or articular surfaces, are points at which ligaments or other tissues connect adjacent bones. Joints permit movement and stability, and can be classified based on their structure or function.
Structural joint classifications are based on the material that makes up the joint as well as whether or not the joint contains a space between the bones. Joints are structurally classified as fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial.
Fibrous Joints Are Immovable
The bones of a...
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Biotribological Testing and Analysis of Articular Cartilage Sliding against Metal for Implants
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Cartilage Mimics Adaptive Lubrication.

Hui Liu1,2, Xiaoduo Zhao1, Yunlei Zhang1,2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 3, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed biomimetic layered materials that mimic natural cartilage for advanced water lubrication. These materials adapt load-bearing capacity and reduce friction, inspired by cartilage

Keywords:
biomimetic layered materialfriction controlhydrogelspolymer brushthermoresponsive

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Biomimetics
  • Tribology

Background:

  • Natural cartilage provides excellent low friction and load-bearing properties through adaptive lubrication.
  • Mimicking this mechanism is crucial for developing advanced water-lubrication materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create thermoresponsive layered materials that imitate cartilage's adaptive lubrication.
  • To investigate tunable load-bearing capacity and friction reduction in synthetic materials.

Main Methods:

  • Grafting poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt) (PSPMA) polyelectrolyte brushes onto a hydrogel substrate [P(NIPAAm-AA-iBr/Fe3+)].
  • Utilizing the thermoresponsive nature of the hydrogel (LCST at 32.5 °C) for tunable mechanical properties.
  • Incorporating Fe3O4 nanoparticles for near-infrared (NIR) laser-induced lubrication enhancement.

Main Results:

  • The composite material exhibits tunable stiffness and modulus in response to temperature changes.
  • Friction reduction was observed above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) due to increased mechanical modulus.
  • NIR laser application on nanoparticle-integrated materials induced in situ lubrication improvement.

Conclusions:

  • The developed layered material successfully mimics the mechanically controlled adaptive lubrication of natural cartilage.
  • The synergistic effects of adaptive load-bearing and enhanced lubrication offer a promising strategy for biomimetic materials.
  • This research inspires the development of intelligent friction-actuation devices and high-load-bearing water-lubrication solutions.