Synthesis of novel vesicle-like polysaccharide derivative for boosting water lubrication of silicon-based devices

To minimize friction when silicone-based medical devices interact with soft tissues, coating their hydrophobic surfaces with lubricants has become a widely adopted method. In this study, a vesicle-like polysaccharide derivative biolubricant (HPC-PSBMA) is synthesized by combining hydrophilic monomers with hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) as the main chain. HPC-PSBMA exhibits good dispersibility in water, and it can be adsorbed onto the surface of silicone rubber. By integrating molecular dynamics simulations with experimental data, the adsorption and film-forming mechanisms are uncovered. Furthermore, HPC-PSBMA showed a lower coefficient of friction (COF∼0.02) on the surface of urinary catheters when compared with commercially available lubricants (COF∼0.05). Consequently, this work offers a novel approach to improving surface lubrication of hydrophobic medical devices with broad potential applications.