Hyaluronan (HA)-lipid layers on model (mica) surfaces massively reduce friction as the surfaces slide past each other, and have been proposed, together with lubricin, as the boundary layers accounting for the extreme lubrication of articular cartilage. The ability of such HA-lipid complexes to lubricate sliding biological tissues has not however been demonstrated. Here we show that HA-lipid layers on the surface of an intrasynovial tendon can strongly reduce the friction as the tendon slides within its sheath. We find a marked lubrication synergy when combining both HA and lipids at the tendon surface, relative to each component alone, further enhanced when the polysaccharide is functionalized to attach specifically to the tissue. Our results shed light on the lubricity of sliding biological tissues, and indicate a novel approach for lubricating surfaces such as tendons and, possibly, articular cartilage, important, respectively, for alleviating function impairment following tendon injury and repair, or in the context of osteoarthritis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Lubrication breakdown between sliding biological tissues is responsible for pathologies ranging from dry eye syndrome to tendon-injury repair impairment and osteoarthritis. These are increasing with human longevity and impose a huge economic and societal burden. Here we show that synergy of hyaluronan and lipids, molecules which are central components of synovial joints and of the tendon/sheath system, can strongly reduce friction between sliding biological tissues (the extrasynovial tendon sliding in its sheath), relative to untreated tissue or to either component on its own. Our results point to the molecular origins of the very low friction in healthy tendons and synovial joints, as well as to novel treatments of lubrication breakdown in these organs.

中文翻译：

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脂质-透明质酸协同作用可大大减少滑膜内组织边界摩擦。

模型表面（云母）表面上的透明质酸（HA）-脂质层可大大减少表面彼此滑过时的摩擦，并且已提出与润滑蛋白一起作为边界层，以解决关节软骨的极度润滑问题。然而，尚未证明这种HA-脂质复合物润滑滑动的生物组织的能力。在这里，我们显示滑膜内肌腱表面上的HA-脂质层可以极大地减少摩擦，因为肌腱在其鞘内滑动。当在纤维束表面结合HA和脂质时，相对于每个单独组分，我们发现了显着的润滑协同作用，当多糖被功能化以特异性附着在组织上时，润滑协同作用进一步增强。我们的结果揭示了滑动生物组织的润滑性，并指出了一种新的润滑方法，分别用于润滑诸如肌腱和可能的关节软骨等表面，对于减轻肌腱损伤和修复后或在骨关节炎的情况下的功能损害很重要。意义声明：滑动性生物组织之间的润滑破坏是造成各种疾病的原因，从干眼症到腱损伤修复障碍和骨关节炎。这些随着人类寿命的增加而增加，并带来巨大的经济和社会负担。在这里，我们表明，相对于未经处理的组织或与之相比，透明质酸和脂质（滑膜关节和腱/鞘系统的主要成分分子）的协同作用可以大大降低滑动的生物组织（滑膜外腱在其鞘中滑动）之间的摩擦。每个组件都可以独立运行。