Journal article
Superporous hydrogels for cartilage repair: Evaluation of the morphological and mechanical properties
Acta biomaterialia, v 4(1), pp 17-25
2008
PMID: 18029236
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Despite extensive research in the design of biomaterials for articular cartilage repair, there remains a need for the development of materials with the mechanical compliance to function synergistically with healthy cartilage, but porous enough to allow for tissue integration. In this study, superporous hydrogels of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) were prepared using a novel technique consisting of a double emulsion process. The hydrogel emulsions were physically cross-linked by freeze–thaw cycling. The hydrogels had a high degree of porosity, determined using environmental scanning electron microscopy, a technique superior to any method that involves dehydrating the samples. Increasing the volume of organic solvent increased porosity, due to cross-linking of the hydrogel solution around the droplets in the emulsion, leaving pores where the organic solvent was present. Poly(lactic-co-glyclic acid) microparticles formed and were embedded in the matrix. The mechanical properties, measured in confined creep and in unconfined, uniaxial compression, were similar to native articular cartilage. The permeability of the samples was unaffected by changing solvent content, despite changes in porosity. These materials are good candidates for tissue engineering of cartilage because they can mimic mature cartilage mechanically while providing a porous matrix through which cells can migrate and proliferate.
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Details
- Title
- Superporous hydrogels for cartilage repair: Evaluation of the morphological and mechanical properties
- Creators
- Kara L. Spiller - Drexel UniversitySamuel J. Laurencin - Drexel UniversityDevon Charlton - Hospital for Special SurgerySuzanne A. Maher - Hospital for Special SurgeryAnthony M. Lowman - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Acta biomaterialia, v 4(1), pp 17-25
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000251774000003
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-36248956112
- Other Identifier
- 991019168351604721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Biomedical
- Materials Science, Biomaterials