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Materials Research into Friction Provides Insight into Arthritis |
Posted on: 2/5/2013 12:00:00 AM... A new, noninvasive, and low-cost method for the early detection and monitoring of arthritis caused by wear and tear may be on its way, thanks to research by University of California, Santa Barbara scientists from the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Materials.
By studying patterns of friction between cartilage pads, the researchers discovered a different type of friction that is more likely to cause wear and damage. Their work suggests ways to detect this friction, and points to new research directions for getting to the root cause of arthritis. The findings were recently published in the article, “Stick-Slip Friction and Wear of Articular Joints”, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
For their work, researchers used a Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA), a device that measures the adhesion and friction forces between surfaces. The degeneration of cartilage—the pad of tissue that covers the ends of bones at a joint—is the most common cause of osteoarthritis. The pads wear away, leaving bone grinding against bone.
The researchers determined that a critical feature in this disease progression is not a high-friction force, but what is known as "stick-slip" friction, or, sometimes, "stiction." Both are characterized by surfaces that initially stick together, and then accelerate away quickly once the static friction force is overcome. With stick-slip friction, the surfaces eventually pull slightly apart and slide across each other, stick again, and pull apart, causing jerky movements. Stick-slip is a common phenomenon, and is responsible for everything from computer hard drive crashes and automobile failures, to squeaking doors.
It's not easy to tell the difference between types of friction at the microscopic level, where it all begins. Smooth-sliding joints might feel the same as those undergoing stiction, or the even more harmful stick-slip, especially in the early stages of arthritis. But, when measured with a high resolution instrument like the SFA, each type of friction reveals its own characteristic profile.
The researchers note in their paper that this technology could be an effective way to measure and diagnose damage to the cartilage or even be used as early detection for symptoms related to arthritis.
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