According to new research, sugar-containing polymer coating will help to repair artificial joint implants. This will be like hip replacements when it gets damaged through wear and tear. Researchers have developed a technique for easily repairing low-friction surfaces.
The researchers took inspiration form the way cartilage works to lubricate joints in humans. The team found out rings of sugar will produce a polymer latch to repair damage.
The team stressed upon the fact that their finding will help to extend the life-span of artificial joints.
They also think that this finding will help to reduce friction-caused energy waste in mechanical systems.
As we know that cartilage can be restored by human bodies if they are damaged, but artificial surfaces cannot be repaired easily.
If polymer coating is applied from a surface, then a sugar ring is created which will help it to re-join soon.
This process is similar to the functions of cartilage to lubricate human joints. Cartilage makes a slick surface by using water to minimise wear and tear. The new process also makes a layer of water to the surface to make it slippery to protect it from any harms.
The polymer coating has two parts, one has a long molecular chain which helps it to hold on to a layer of water. Another is, a sugar ring is attached in the end of this molecular chain. The sugar ring anchors itself to a surface by docking with specific molecules we call adamantanes.
This adamantanes helps the polymer coating to get attracted to the surface.
