Proposal of a simple open-source quantitative tribometric assay and its implementation for the assessment of the effects of redox-related alterations on the lubrication capacity of a commercial water-based lubricant gel

BackgroundUnderstanding molecular and biochemical mechanisms affecting biotribological properties of tissues, biological fluids, and drugs may accelerate the invention of novel drug formulations and targets and facilitate the discovery of etiopathogenetic mechanisms. Unfortunately, biotribometric equipment is expensive and unaffordable. The first aim was to assess whether PASTA, an open-source platform based on a hacked kitchen scale, can be adapted for the analysis of biotribometric properties. The second aim was to demonstrate the use of PASTA by studying the effects of oxidation on the lubricating properties of the commercial water-based lubricant. MethodsThe PASTA platform was adapted using a custom-made tribometric adapter attached to the bottom of the hacked kitchen scale connected to a computer via the NodeMCU ESP-32S. A commercial water-based lubricant was oxidized with 2,2-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride and/or protected against oxidation with glutathione. The samples were analyzed using a simple tribometric assay with the PASTA platform and the ORP-146S redox microsensor. ResultsA mastPASTA custom-made adapter enables the use of PASTA for reliable quantitative tribometric studies. Oxidation of the commercial water-based lubricant does not reduce its lubrication capacity, however, the addition of the antioxidant glutathione protects against the loss of its lubrication capacity upon exposure to air by a redox-unrelated mechanism. ConclusionPASTA can easily be adapted for studying tribological properties. The effects of the addition of antioxidants to water-based vaginal lubricants should be explored as a possible way to enhance durability and efficacy and increase their health benefits.