Boston University: New Lubricant Promises Extended Relief for Joint Pain
substance from seeping, but also aids in longer lasting cartilage protection. While comparable liquid lubricant treatments typically last no more than two days, Grinstaff ’s novel invention can provide relief for more than two weeks. People living with osteoarthritis can now live with more convenience and less pain as a result of Grinstaff and his work.
MARK W. GRINSTAFF, Ph.D., is a professor of
Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry at Boston University and Distinguished Faculty Fellow of Engineering. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and was an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology. He received the ACS Nobel Laureate Signature Award, NSF Career Award, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, and Edward M. Kennedy Award for Health Care Innovation. He has published more than 170 articles, is co-founder of four companies commercializing his ideas, and has three medical products sold and used clinically. Current research includes new macromolecule and amphiphile syntheses, self-assembly chemistry, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and imaging. Osteoarthritis sufferers can now enjoy longer lasting relief from joint pain thanks to the work of BU researchers. Grinstaff, a biomedical engineer and his team of researchers have developed a new synthetic polymer supplements synovial fluid that will relieve some of the symptoms affecting many osteoarthritis patients in the nation such as swelling and stiffness. Nearly 200 million people around the world suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common type of joint disease that also leads to disability in many elderly people. Grinstaff ’s innovation will be a key component to expand existing efforts in osteoarthritis treatment. Currently, the best joint fluid supplement provides only temporary relief for pain. It does not, however, offer sufficient lubrication available in the unique polymer. Grinstaff ’s invention prevents further degradation to the cartilage that cushions the joint. The lubricant is a synthetic
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polymer that supplements synovial fluid, the natural lubricant found in joints. Since osteoarthritis is a joint disease caused by cartilage and synovial fluid degradation, it often results in bone-on-bone abrasion. The new lubricant works like oil to minimize the wear between the two surfaces. It also helps to prevent the uncomfortable symptoms while also slowing the overall progression of the disease. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, an injection treatment of a polymer proves to be much better and more beneficial than the other leading synovial lubricants. Another advantage of the synthetic biopolymer is its large molecular weight, which stops the liquid from leaking out of the joints. This feature not only prevents the slippery
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