title: Polymer-brush lubrication: a review of recent theoretical advances.
abstract: This review compiles recent theoretical advances to describe compressive and shear forces of polymer-brush bilayers, which consist of two opposing brushes in contact. Such model systems for polymer-brush lubrication are frequently used as a benchmark to gain insight into biological problems, e.g., synovial joint lubrication. Based on scaling theory, I derive conformational and collective properties of polymer-brush bilayers in equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium situations, such as shear forces in the linear and nonlinear response regimes of stationary shear and under non-stationary shear. Furthermore, I discuss the influence of macromolecular inclusions and electrostatic interactions on polymer-brush lubrication. Comparisons to alternative analytical approaches, experiments and numerical results are performed. Special emphasis is given to methods for simulating polymer-brush bilayers using molecular dynamics simulations.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany. kreer@ipfdd.de.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kreer
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D033081:Shear Strength; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers