Mechanical Properties of Human Synovial Fluid: An Approach for Osteoarthritis Treatment

Publications

Mechanical Properties of Human Synovial Fluid: An Approach for Osteoarthritis Treatment

Year : 2024

Publisher : wiley

Source Title : Mechanical Engineering in Biomedical Applications Bio-3D Printing, Biofluid Mechanics, Implant Design, Biomaterials, Computational Biomechanics, Tissue Mechanics

Document Type :

Abstract

The rheological properties of synovia are of interest because of their importance in the lubrication of knee joints. The synovial fluid has excellent lubrication properties at both low and high loads as well as shear (the friction coefficient is in the order of 0.01–0.02). The synovial fluid (SF) serves as a joint lubricant, a shock absorber, and a cause of sustenance for articular cartilage. The most prevalent kind of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA), is a progressive joint condition categorized by the loss of articular cartilage. Changes in the rheological characteristics of the synovial fluid might result from damage to the articular cartilage in an osteoarthritic joint. The major aims of osteoarthritis (OA) treatment are to alleviate pain and preserve joint motion. Viscosupplementation, or intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA), is one of the non-operative actions for osteoarthritis (OA). It functions as a shock absorber for joint loads and a lubricant to allow bones to glide over one another. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) hyaluronate and moderate molecular weight PVP were found to be the closest to natural synovial fluid in artificial synovial fluid (ASF). Artificial articular lubricants were used in this treatment to help the joints function better. The present work proposes the usefulness of the PVP solution as a synovial mimic fluid and highlights the need to realistically assess the rheological characteristics of synovial fluid. Using viscosupplements that mimic healthy synovial fluid is a sensible strategy since several viscosupplements used in osteoarthritis treatment help restore the synovial fluid to its natural composition and feature.