Molecular weight independence of the effect of additive hyaluronic acid on the lubricating characteristics in synovial joints with experimental deterioration

• Published in: Clinical biomechanics (Bristol) Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 352 - 356
• Main Authors: Mabuchi, Kiyoshi, Obara, Takeo, Ikegami, Kazuyuki, Yamaguchi, Toshijiro, Kanayama, Toshiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1999
• Subjects: Additives; Animals; Drug products; Force control; Friction; Friction measurement; Hyaluronic acid; Hyaluronic Acid - pharmacology; Joint lubrication; Joints (anatomy); Living systems studies; Lubrication; Molecular Weight; Organic acids; Rabbits; Robotics; Synovial Fluid - drug effects; Synovial Fluid - physiology; Friction measurement; Joint lubrication; Hyaluronic acid; Molecular weight; Robotics
• ISSN: 0268-0033; 1879-1271
• DOI: 10.1016/S0268-0033(98)00084-9

Objective. To assess the molecular weight dependence of the lubricating characteristics of additive hyaluronic acid in animal joints with experimental deterioration. Design. An experimental study in rabbits stifles in vitro. Background. Hyaluronic acid is used as a drug for osteoarthritis. However, the molecular weight dependence of the effect of hyaluronic acid has been unclear. Methods. Using a robotic arm under force-control, frictional coefficients were measured in fourteen rabbit stifles. The experimental conditions examined were: (1) intact joint surfaces; (2) after the joint surfaces were washed with physiological saline; (3) after the addition of 1% hyaluronic acid solution with a molecular weight of one million daltons and two million daltons, respectively. Results. The increased frictional coefficient produced by washing with saline was decreased significantly by the addition of hyaluronic acid to the joint surfaces. This effect was observed regardless of the molecular weight of the hyaluronic acid. Conclusion. The lubricating characteristics of hyaluronic acid in synovial joints do not change with molecular weight. Relevance Hyaluronic acid solution is used clinically for the treatment of osteoarthritis. In the present study, the molecular weight dependency of the lubricating characteristics of hyaluronic acid was tested using the friction in synovial joints.