Hu Jing, Andablo-Reyes Efren, Soltanahmadi Siavash, Sarkar Anwesha
Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
ACS Macro Lett. 2020 Dec 15;9(12):1726-1731. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00689. Epub 2020 Nov 16.
The ability to create a superlubricious aqueous lubricant is important for various biological and technological applications. Here, a nonlipid biolubricant with strikingly low friction coefficients is fabricated (patented) by reinforcing a fluid-like hydrogel composed of biopolymeric nanofibrils with proteinaceous microgels, which synergistically provide superlubricity on elastomeric surfaces in comparison to any of the sole components. This two-component lubricant composed of positively charged lactoferrin microgels and negatively charged κ-carrageenan hydrogels is capable of exceeding the high lubricating performance of real human saliva in tribo tests using both smooth and textured surfaces, latter mimicking the human tongue's wettability, topography, and compliance. The favorable electrostatic attraction between mutually oppositely charged microgels and the hydrogel reinforces the mechanical properties of the hydrogel, allowing friction reduction by combining the benefits of both viscous and hydration lubrication. The superlubricity of these microgel-reinforced hydrogels offers a unique prospect for the fabrication of biocompatible aqueous lubricants for dry-mouth therapy and/or designing of nonobesogenic nutritional technologies.
创造一种超润滑水性润滑剂的能力对于各种生物和技术应用都很重要。在此，通过用蛋白质微凝胶增强由生物聚合物纳米纤维组成的类流体水凝胶，制备（已获专利）了一种具有极低摩擦系数的非脂质生物润滑剂，与任何单一成分相比，二者协同作用可在弹性体表面提供超润滑性。这种由带正电的乳铁蛋白微凝胶和带负电的κ-卡拉胶水凝胶组成的双组分润滑剂，在使用光滑和有纹理表面的摩擦学测试中，能够超越真实人类唾液的高润滑性能，后者模拟了人类舌头的润湿性、地形和顺应性。相互带相反电荷的微凝胶与水凝胶之间有利的静电吸引力增强了水凝胶的机械性能，通过结合粘性润滑和水合润滑的优点实现了摩擦降低。这些微凝胶增强水凝胶的超润滑性为制备用于口干治疗的生物相容性水性润滑剂和/或设计非致肥胖营养技术提供了独特的前景。
