New Joint Lubricant to Offer Lasting Relief for Osteoarthritis Sufferers

A team of researchers at Boston University College of Engineering has designed a new joint lubricant that offers longer lasting relief for osteoarthritis sufferers. The details of the polymer are described in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

According to the principal researcher, the new synthetic polymer supplements synovial fluid, which is a natural lubricant present in the joints and is more effective when compared to present treatments.

The present fluid supplement provides just temporary symptom relief and fails to give sufficient lubrication to prevent damage to the cartilage surface, which protects the joints. In order to meet this objective, Professor Mark W. Grinstaff and colleagues have advanced the first synthetic synovial fluid.

The study was led by Grinstaff from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center along with Harvard Medical School orthopedic surgeon Brian Snyder, and a team of Boston University chemistry and engineering students.

According to the study report, nearly 27 million Americans suffer with osteoarthritis. It causes pain and swelling, which result in certain diseases of the hand, knee, hip and other joints, damaging the cartilage and synovial fluid.

"From our studies, we know our biopolymer is a superior lubricant in the joint, much better than the leading synovial fluid supplement, and similar to healthy synovial fluid," said Grinstaff in a press statement. "When we used this new polymer, the friction between the two cartilage surfaces was lower, resulting in less wear and surface-to-surface interaction. It's like oil for the joints."

The product was produced last year for a different study, where the new polymer mimics the properties of natural polysaccharides. It was then that the researchers planned on using it as potential treatment to cure osteoarthritis.

The best part of this biopolymer is that it helps in longer cartilage protection, as its large molecular size prevents it from seeping out of the joint. The new polymer stays for more than two weeks, unlike the synovial fluid supplement that lasts for just a day or two.