Nonwoven Reinforced Photocurable Poly(glycerol sebacate)-Based Hydrogels
Michael Phillips1, Giuseppe Tronci1, Christopher M Pask2
1Clothworkers' Centre for Textile Materials Innovation for Healthcare, Leeds Institute of Textiles & Colour, School of Design, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Polymers
|April 13, 2024
Summary
This study introduces a new polymer composite for implantable hydrogels, enhancing mechanical strength and elasticity. Fiber reinforcement significantly improves properties for tissue regeneration applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Implantable hydrogels require mechanical properties matching surrounding tissues for optimal function during regeneration.
- Achieving this is difficult for degradable, high-water-content hydrogels in mechanically active sites, like foot ulcers.
- Hydrogel composites offer a strategy to control structural features and macroscopic properties over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a novel photocurable elastomeric polymer, poly(glycerol-co-sebacic acid-co-lactic acid-co-polyethylene glycol) acrylate (PGSLPA).
- To process PGSLPA into UV-cured hydrogels, electrospun nonwovens, and fiber-reinforced composites without harsh conditions.
- To investigate the impact of microstructure and layering on the mechanical properties of these bioresorbable hydrogel composites.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of PGSLPA polymer.
- Fabrication of UV-cured hydrogels, electrospun nonwovens, and fiber-reinforced hydrogel composites.
- Mechanical testing (compressive strength, elasticity, compression fatigue) of hydrogel variants with and without nonwoven reinforcement and varied layering.
Main Results:
- Nonwoven-reinforced PGSLPA hydrogels showed a 60% increase in compressive strength and an 80% increase in elastic moduli compared to fiber-free samples.
- Mechanical properties were tunable by altering the layering arrangement of nonwoven and hydrogel phases.
- Nanofiber-reinforced hydrogels demonstrated good elastic recovery, indicated by minimal hysteresis in fatigue testing.
Conclusions:
- PGSLPA hydrogel composites, particularly with nonwoven reinforcement, offer enhanced mechanical properties suitable for load-bearing tissue engineering applications.
- The tunable nature of these composites allows for tailored mechanical responses based on specific anatomical site requirements.
- The developed materials provide a promising platform for developing advanced implantable devices for tissue regeneration.
