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Responsive polysaccharide-grafted surfaces for biotribological applications

Pradal, Clementine; Yakubov, Gleb E.; Williams, Martin A.K.; McGuckin, Michael A.; Stokes, Jason R.

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Authors

Clementine Pradal

Martin A.K. Williams

Michael A. McGuckin

Jason R. Stokes



Abstract

The elucidation of biolubrication mechanisms and the design of artificial biotribological contacts requires the development of model surfaces that can help to tease out the cues that govern friction in biological systems. Polysaccharides provide an interesting option as a biotribological mimic due to their similarity with the glycosylated molecules present at biointerfaces. Here, pectin was successfully covalently grafted at its reducing end to a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface via a reductive amination reaction. This method enabled the formation of a wear resistant pectin layer that provided enhanced boundary lubrication compared to adsorbed pectin. Pectins with different degrees of methylesterification and blockiness were exposed to salt solutions of varying ionic strength and displayed responsiveness to solvent conditions. Exposure of the grafted pectin layers to solutions of between 1 and 200?mM NaCl resulted in a decrease in boundary friction and an increase in the hydration and swelling of the pectin layer to varying degrees depending on the charge density of the pectin, showing the potential to tune the conformation and friction of the layer using the pectin architecture and environmental cues. The robust and responsive nature of these new pectin grafted surfaces makes them an effective mimic of biotribological interfaces and provides a powerful tool to study the intricate mechanisms involved in the biolubrication phenomenon.

Citation

Pradal, C., Yakubov, G. E., Williams, M. A., McGuckin, M. A., & Stokes, J. R. (2019). Responsive polysaccharide-grafted surfaces for biotribological applications. Biotribology, 18, Article 100092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotri.2019.100092

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 30, 2019
Online Publication Date Apr 1, 2019
Publication Date 2019-06
Deposit Date Jul 2, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Biotribology
Electronic ISSN 2352-5738
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 18
Article Number 100092
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotri.2019.100092
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2260908
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352573819300058

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