Influence of chondroitin sulfate on the biochemical, mechanical and frictional properties of cartilage explants in long-term culture.

A recent study [Basalo et al., 2007. Chondroitin sulfate reduces the friction coefficient of articular cartilage.

Chondroitin sulfate reduces the friction coefficient of articular cartilage.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS)-C on the frictional response of bovine articular cartilage. The main hypothesis is that CS decreases the friction coefficient of articular cartilage. Corollary hypotheses are that viscosity and osmotic pressure are not the mechanisms that mediate the reduction in the friction coefficient by CS.