State-of-the-Art and Prospect of Biotribology in Human Body

A review was given on the biotribology in human body. Thus the biological researches of hair, eye, skin, tooth, and joints were summarized. The developments of the biotribology in blood, artificial heart, artificial heart valves, and food taste were discussed. It was pointed out that biotribology as an important discipline to affect the living quality of human beings was driven to develop by the innovation demands in the multi-disciplinary tribology, biology, and medical science etc. It can be divided into two groups, i.e., the hard frictional pair and soft frictional pair, and can be classified in details as bone and joints system, tooth and mouth system, heart and blood system, eye system, skin and hair system, digestive system, respiration system, muscle and ligament system, human lubricant, and so on. Moreover, some key issues concerning the research on biotribology were suggested. And it was suggested to focus on the special wear mechanism in human body, the simulation friction and wear test methodology of implants in human body environment, the prediction of the biotribological behavior of the implant materials in human body, and the biological reaction of the wear debris in human body.