Probing the Molecular Interactions and Lubrication Mechanisms of Purified Full-Length Recombinant Human Proteoglycan 4 (rhPRG4) and Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

Biomacromolecules. 2019 Feb 11;20(2):1056-1067. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01678. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Abstract

Probing the adsorption and lubrication behavior of lubricin, also known as proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), is important for understanding the ultralow friction of cartilage lubrication. Most previous research has focused on native lubricin either purified from synovial fluid or articular cartilage explant culture media. In this work, the adsorption behavior and lubrication mechanism of full-length recombinant human PRG4 (rhPRG4) on mica as well as the effect of adding hyaluronic acid (HA, a polysaccharide) were systematically investigated using a surface forces apparatus (SFA) technique. A low friction coefficient (μ ∼ 0.04) was measured when multilayer rhPRG4 (∼31 nm) was confined in between mica surfaces, even when the load increased to ∼1.2 MPa. Intriguingly, a previously unreported ultralow friction coefficient (μ < 0.005) was observed at a low sliding velocity ( v = 0.14 μm/s) with the applied load P reaching ∼3.6 MPa when a diluted rhPRG4 solution (∼90 μg/mL) was used. The distinct friction behavior is likely due to the smooth and more close-packed lubricin coating, as made evident by the atomic force microscope imaging. Adding HA onto multilayer rhPRG4-coated mica increased the friction coefficient μ to ∼0.1; however, the load bearing property increased, indicating potential synergistic effect between rhPRG4 and HA, which was further demonstrated by the weak adhesion observed when separating rhPRG4-coated mica and HA-coated aminopropyltriethoxysilane-mica (APTES-mica). Alternatively, adding premixed rhPRG4-HA on mica had a friction coefficient (μ ∼ 0.1) close to that of injecting concentrated rhPRG4 (∼450 μg/mL) with lower load sustainability. Our results provide fundamental insights into the adsorption and lubrication behavior of lubricin and its interaction with HA, with useful implications for the underlying mechanism of ultralow friction provided by synovial fluid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Aluminum Silicates / metabolism
  • Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
  • Friction
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronic Acid / metabolism*
  • Lubrication / methods
  • Proteoglycans / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Surface Properties
  • Synovial Fluid / metabolism

Substances

  • Aluminum Silicates
  • Glycoproteins
  • PRG4 protein, human
  • Proteoglycans
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • lubricin
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • mica