Injectable polymerized high internal phase emulsions with rapid in situ curing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Injectable polymerized high internal phase emulsion (polyHIPEs) scaffolds are used for bone defect repair.
• Current thermally initiated scaffolds have long cure times, hindering clinical application.
• There is a need for rapidly curing, injectable bone graft materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize redox-initiated polyHIPEs for injectable bone scaffolds.
• To significantly reduce cure times for in-situ polymerization.
• To assess the impact of initiator concentration on scaffold properties and storage stability.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polyHIPEs using a double-barrel syringe system.
• Investigation of redox initiator chemistry and concentration effects on cure time and mechanical properties.
• Evaluation of scaffold pore architecture and storage stability at reduced temperatures.

Main Results:

• Redox initiation dramatically reduced cure times from hours to minutes.
• Increased initiator concentration enhanced compressive modulus and strength.
• Scaffold porosity and architecture were maintained.
• Uncured emulsions showed minimal property changes after 6 months of cold storage.

Conclusions:

• Redox-initiated polyHIPEs offer rapid in-situ curing for injectable bone scaffolds.
• The developed system meets translational goals of long storage and fast curing (<15 min).
• These scaffolds provide a promising alternative for treating irregular bone defects.