Bioinspired surface functionalization of biodegradable mesoporous silica nanoparticles for enhanced lubrication and drug release

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is associated with the significantly increased friction of the joint, which results in progressive and irreversible damage to the articular cartilage. A synergistic therapy integrating lubrication enhancement and drug delivery is recently proposed for the treatment of early-stage osteoarthritis. In the present study, bioinspired by the self-adhesion performance of mussels and super-lubrication property of articular cartilages, a biomimetic self-adhesive dopamine methacrylamide—poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (DMA—MPC) copolymer was designed and synthesized via free radical polymerization.