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Sustainable superlubricity achieved by thermosensitive and degradable hydrogel under ocular conditions
Friction 2026, 14(2): 9441189
Published: 06 February 2026
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Sustainable lubrication of biomedical hydrogels with high stability is important for their application in dry eye disease (DED) treatment but remains a challenge. We report a novel strategy to achieve sustainable superlubricity under ocular conditions on the basis of the degradation of a thermosensitive P-CnPEG (polyethylene glycol (PEG)) hydrogel. First, by adjusting the composition and chemical structure of the P-CnPEG complex, its aqueous solution undergoes an adaptive sol‒gel transition at 25.1 °C during heating, resulting in a gel state upon injection onto the ocular surface (35 °C). In addition, the P-CnPEG hydrogel obtained at 35 °C also shows superior performance, such as shear resistance, high transmittance (> 80%), rapid swelling, self-healing, and Ca2+ responsiveness, making it suitable for ocular applications. In the tear environment of DED patients with high reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, the P-CnPEG hydrogel degrades within 6 days through the breakage of crosslinking sites. The degradation solution of each day presents ultralow coefficients of friction (COFs) under ocular conditions through the hydration effect. Finally, the excellent biocompatibility of the hydrogel demonstrates its potential for ocular applications. This study systematically discusses the mechanism of sustainable degradation-induced superlubricity of P-CnPEG hydrogels, introducing a novel and promising strategy for DED treatment.

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