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Pressurized polymerization for reaction casting of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
|March 1, 1981
Summary
Producing bubble-free poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels under pressure enables the creation of intricate implantable structures for medical applications like prosthetic urinary bladders.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials science
- Polymer chemistry
- Medical device engineering
Background:
- Hydrogels are widely used in biomedical applications.
- Bubble formation during polymerization can compromise hydrogel integrity and performance.
- Precise fabrication of complex geometries is crucial for implantable devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for producing bubble-free poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels.
- To demonstrate the utility of this technique for fabricating intricate implantable structures.
Main Methods:
- Free radical polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate under elevated pressure (700 kPa).
- Characterization of hydrogel structure for bubble presence.
Main Results:
- Homopolymers of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) were successfully produced with no observable trapped bubbles.
- The technique allows for the creation of implantable hydrogel structures with exact and intricate geometries.
Conclusions:
- Performing polymerization under pressure is an effective method to prevent bubble formation in hydrogels.
- This technique facilitates the fabrication of complex hydrogel structures for advanced biomedical applications, including ureteral anastomoses.