Toward a Governing Mechanism of Nanoscale Articular Cartilage (Physiologic) Lubrication: Smoluchowski-type Dynamics in Amphiphile Proton Channels

Abstract

1801) 1802 A. Gadomski et al.Articular cartilage is an extraordinary tribochemical device designed by nature. Yet, a long-standing debate exists as to the mechanisms by which its interfacial properties facilitate lubrication toward very low static and kinetic frictional coefficients. We postulate the physiologic emergence of proton channels in amphiphile-water sub-systems undergoing mesoscopic Smoluchowski-type dynamics as a governing mechanism toward nanoscale articular cartilage lubrication. We argue that an enthalpic interplay between geometric and electrostatic confinement and the associated entropic counterpart is characteristic of proton channel crowding rather than of proton drift. A proton-wave inversion effect also supported by quantum mechanical evaluation is demonstrated such that the wave plays a beneficial role in nanoscale lubrication driven by local free-energy gradients. These findings have practical implications for the treatment of damaged articular cartilage as exemplified by the physiochemical scalpel used in modern tissue rescue interventions as a wound healing biomimic facilitating articular cartilage lesion recovery. Amphiphile proton channels also provide a mechanism for surface active phospholipid self-assembly supportive of their efficacy as an occasional sacrificial layer designed to mitigate certain perturbation events. This behavior remains a necessary requisite to reconstitute normal bearing surfaces after therapeutic tissue rescue.

Unravelling a Self-healing Thermo- and Hydrodynamic Mechanism of Transient Pore's Late-stage Closing in Vesicles, and Related Soft-matter Systems, in Terms of Liaison Between Surface-tension and Bending Effects

“…AC shows very low friction coefficient which can be µ ≈ 10 −3 ÷ 10 −2 , and a lubrication is to be considered of hydrodynamic nature [18]. There is a growing amount of recent papers [17,[22][23][24][25][26][27] that indicate the role of vesicles in biolubrication. They propose, at least at the laboratorial scale, that the mechanism of biolubrication can be explained in terms of vesicles' response to both: loading and (small) shearing force factors.…”

“…Then, the corresponding Grotthuss mechanism of hydrogen ions transport is possible [28]. As a consequence, the facilitated lubrication can be obtained due to superdiffusive transport of hydrogen ions [26], complemented by the overall action of screened electrostatics [29]. The leakage of the water and dissolved ions [22,26] accompanying H-bond breakage may cause a proton streams cascades' creation.…”

“…As a consequence, the facilitated lubrication can be obtained due to superdiffusive transport of hydrogen ions [26], complemented by the overall action of screened electrostatics [29]. The leakage of the water and dissolved ions [22,26] accompanying H-bond breakage may cause a proton streams cascades' creation. The Re number is higher in nanochannels as confinement grows [16,30], thus, such revealed mechanism seems to be an important factor in systems with facilitated lubrication.…”

“…Moreover, some biomolecular inclusions, mostly of protein-type, might cause the vesicles to deconstruct into two-dimensional films; such an instance would apply preferrably at as-achieved (minute) electrical neutrality conditions [31]. Returning comparatively to micelles [22], and their roles played in the biolubrication mechanism, it appears when the kinetic friction coefficent is about to reach its appreciably high value, out of the facilitated lubrication regime [26]. It implies that the (pores-affecting) self-healing mechanism does not apply, and the layers reform at suitable surfaces of articulating system.…”

Formation of Protein Networks between Mucins: Molecular Dynamics Study Based on the Interaction Energy of the System

“…The last 50 years has seen ongoing research into the mechanism of lubrication seen within joints [1][2][3]. Hyaluronic acid (HA), phospholipids (PL), and lubricin (proteoglycan 4 (PRG4)), the constituent components of synovial fluid [4], interact with a complicated multiscale, synergistic nature [2,[5][6][7][8] to create a lubrication phenomenon that is still not well described. Thus, it is important to analyze the dynamics of each component, as well as the synergy between them.…”