CONTROL OF RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF MIXED HYALURONATE/LUBRICIN SOLUTIONS

摘要

Disclosed are mixed solutions of PRG4 and hyaluronic acids having controlled, enhanced rheological properties adapted for various particular medical and cosmetic uses. Such solutions combine the solution-based lubrication ability of HA and the boundary-based lubricating effects of lubricin. Being more viscous, the solutions when used for joint viscosupplementation enhance both the duration of the HA within the joint capsule (in vivo half-life) and enhance the cushioning effects of the HA, as well as improve both solution and boundary mode lubrication mechanisms.

主权项

1. An aqueous mixed solution comprising:
unreduced lubricin present at a concentration greater than 10 μg/mL, characterized by having been extracted from culture medium supporting growth of cells which express the human PRG4 gene and competent to post translationally glycosylate the expressed protein, in admixture with hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof having a combination of a weight average molecular weight and concentration placing it at or less than its critical concentration when disposed alone in solution, said mixed solution having a viscosity greater than the viscosity of the hyaluronic acid solution in the absence of lubricin.