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A Freeze-Thawing Method to Prepare Chitosan-Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels Without Crosslinking Agents and Diflunisal Release Studies
Published on: January 14, 2020
Highly lubricious poly(vinyl alcohol)-poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels
Jeeyoung Choi1, Hsiang J Kung, Celia E Macias
1Harris Orthopaedic Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B, Applied Biomaterials
|November 29, 2011
Summary
This study enhances poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels for artificial cartilage. Adding specific polymers creates a tough, highly lubricious material suitable for joint applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Orthopedic Engineering
Background:
- Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels offer biocompatibility and lubricity for artificial cartilage.
- PVA hydrogels lack sufficient mechanical strength for load-bearing joints.
- Thermal annealing improves strength but reduces water content and lubricity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a robust and highly lubricious PVA hydrogel for artificial cartilage applications.
- To overcome the limitations of thermal annealing in PVA hydrogel preparation.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of anionic poly(acrylic acid) moieties to enhance lubricity.
- Addition of poly(ethylene-glycol) to prevent pore collapse during thermal annealing.
- Comparative thermal annealing in air versus argon gas to investigate lubrication effects.
Main Results:
- The modified PVA hydrogel exhibited improved toughness and high lubricity.
- Poly(acrylic acid) addition enhanced surface lubricity.
- Poly(ethylene-glycol) addition prevented pore collapse, maintaining structural integrity.
- Annealing in air resulted in a "super-lubricous" response compared to argon.
Conclusions:
- Combining poly(acrylic acid) and poly(ethylene-glycol) yields a tough, lubricious PVA hydrogel.
- The developed hydrogel shows promise for artificial cartilage applications.
- Atmospheric conditions during annealing significantly impact hydrogel lubricity.
