Restoration Effect and Tribological Behavior of Hyaluronic Acid Reinforced with Graphene Oxide in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an unavoidable degenerative disease of the human body. A relatively efficient and desirable treatment exists that leads to the ecological restoration of cartilage through the adjustments of the micro-environment of the human body and relies on its self-repairing ability. In the present study, lubricants were injected into the knee joints of rats. Hyaluronic acid (HA) reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) provided a lubricating condition for cartilage repair, as well as played an important role in the regulation of the microenvironment in the joint cavity. The experimental results demonstrated that the stability of HA lubricant reinforced with GO was dependent on the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups on the graphite oxide nano-sheets. The GO could be evenly distributed on the joint surface in the form of a solid lubrication film and was able to decrease the articular cartilage necrosis and the ratio of MMP-3/TIMP-1 through TIMP-1 activity increase. The HA lubricant reinforced with GO demonstrated an apparent antifriction effect on the joint surface, providing a stable environment for cartilage repair. It was also conducive to long-term lubrication improvement. The adjustment of micro-environment between the cartilage friction interfaces might contribute to the treatment of osteoarthritis through ecological restoration.