A rational human joint friction test using a human cartilage-on-cartilage arrangement

Efficient lubrication is essential for synovial joint mobility in both health and disease. It is well known that extremely low friction is required for proper functioning of synovial joints. In several medical treatments, bio-lubricants are injected into human joints to maintain their proper functioning. In the course of developing and screening such bio-lubricants, it is important to measure their effect under conditions similar to the ones in vivo. To this end, a first attempt was made to test the friction of two slices of human articular cartilage sliding over each other under various working conditions in the presence of different lubricating fluids. The results can be used for future research in the field of joint lubrication.