Polymers in living systems: from biological lubrication to tissue engineering and biomedical devices

The roles of macromolecules in living systems as information storage systems (as DNA) and in biochemical synthesis have been much studied and are relatively well understood. Far less is known about their physical behavior at biological surfaces and interfaces. This review considers in particular the roles of polymers in biological lubrication and its relation both to diseases such as osteoarthritis and to remedies such as tissue engineering. The lubricating behavior of common bio-interfacial macromolecules including mucins, hyaluronan, lubricin, and aggrecan are described, and insights into the mechanism of biolubrication are examined in the light of the recently revealed role of hydration lubrication in water-based (including living) systems. Copyright (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.