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Synthesis and recovery characteristics of branched and grafted PNIPAAm–PEG hydrogels for the development of an injectable load-bearing nucleus pulposus replacement
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Synthesis and recovery characteristics of branched and grafted PNIPAAm–PEG hydrogels for the development of an injectable load-bearing nucleus pulposus replacement

Jonathan D Thomas, Garland Fussell, Sumona Sarkar, Anthony M Lowman and Michele Marcolongo
Acta biomaterialia, v 6(4), pp 1319-1328
2010
PMID: 19837195

Abstract

Mechanical properties Hydrogel Recovery Intervertebral disc PNIPAAm
A family of injectable poly( N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm) copolymer hydrogels has been fabricated in order to tune mechanical properties to support load-bearing function and dimensional recovery for possible use as load-bearing medical devices, such as a nucleus pulposus replacement for the intervertebral disc. PNIPAAm–polyethylene glycol (PEG) copolymers were synthesized with varying hydrophilic PEG concentrations as grafted or branched structures to enhance dimensional recovery of the materials. Polymerizations were confirmed with attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies. Incorporation of PEG was effective in raising water content of pure PNIPAAm hydrogels (29.3% water for pure PNIPAAm vs. 47.7% for PEG branches and 39.5% for PEG grafts). PNIPAAm with 7% grafted as well as 7% branched PEG had significantly reduced compressive modulus compared to that of pure PNIPAAm. Initially recovered compressive strain was significantly increased for 7% PEG branches after pre-testing immersion in PBS for up to 33 days, while 7% PEG grafts decreased this value. Sample height recovery for pure PNIPAAm was limited to 31.6%, while PNIPAAm with 7% branches was increased to 71.3%. When mechanically tested samples were allowed to recover without load over 30 min, each composition was able to significantly recover height, indicating that the time to recovery is slower than the unloading rates typically used in testing. While the incorporation of hydrophilic PEG was expected to alter the mechanical behavior of the hydrogels, only the branched form was able to significantly enhance dimensional recovery.

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Web of Science research areas
Engineering, Biomedical
Materials Science, Biomaterials
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