This study compares the biotribological and structural behavior of PVA and pHEMA hydrogels under conditions simulating the cartilage environment to understand the lubrication mechanisms. PVA samples exhibited very low apparent friction coefficients and high-water uptake due to their hydrophilic, hydroxyl-rich network. In contrast, pHEMA hydrogels showed higher friction but substantially enhanced wear resistance, particularly under extended sliding against rough counterfaces. While PVA offers excellent lubrication performance, its wear stability remains limited. On the other hand, the low wear observed in pHEMAdespite its higher frictionsuggests strong structural resilience, making it a promising platform for further tailoring toward cartilage-mimicking applications. The results highlight the importance of balancing interfacial lubrication and mechanical durability when designing hydrogel-based cartilage replacements.

Advanced Biomaterials Central European Institute of Technology Brno University of Technology Purkyňova 656 123 612 00 Brno Czech Republic

Centre of Polymer Systems University Institute Tomas Bata University in Zlin 760 01 Zlin Czech Republic

Department of Tribology Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Brno University of Technology Technická 2896 2 616 69 Brno Czech Republic

Materials Research Center Faculty of Chemistry Brno University of Technology Purkyňova 464 118 612 00 Brno Czech Republic

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