Evaluation of frictional and rheological properties of choline/N-acetyl-l-proline ionic liquid modified with molecular aggregates of tea saponin derivatives

As the life expectancy increases, so do the wear and damage to joints caused by increased physical activity. In this regard, the development of biofriendly and nontoxic lubricating materials has important social and economic impact. Therefore, this work develops such a lubricant for joints using tea saponin derivative (TSC16) as the bio-lubricating additive to a choline/N-acetyl- l -proline ionic liquid (IL). The TSC16 molecules aggregated in the choline/N-acetyl- l -proline IL to form short fibrous structures, which increased the viscosity of the IL and improved the formation of a lubricating film on the applied area. The fibrous structure of TSC16 enhanced the strength of the lubricating film and improved the lubrication and anti-wear performance. Overall, the developed IL blend exhibits promise for tissue engineering applications.