Frictional characteristics of the tribological unfolding albumin for polyethylene and cartilage

Studies were carried out to investigate the effect of tribological process induced conformational change of human serum albumin on the frictional characteristics. Albumin acts as the interfacial molecule in the boundary lubrication regime. The results indicate that a decrease of α-helical content and an unfolding of the secondary structure of albumin are possibly induced by the frictional heat of UHMWPE-steel articulation process. The conformational change of albumin differentiates the frictional characteristics for polyethylene and cartilages. A model describing the frictional features of the conformational change of albumin on the hydrophilic cartilage and the hydrophobic UHMWPE was proposed.