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Anisotropic polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel for cardiovascular applications
Author(s) -
Millon L. E.,
Mohammadi H.,
Wan W. K.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.30543
Subject(s) - polyvinyl alcohol , materials science , self healing hydrogels , isotropy , anisotropy , composite material , polymer , temperature cycling , thermal , polymer chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , meteorology
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a hydrophilic polymer with various characteristics desired for biomedical applications and can be transformed into a solid hydrogel by physical crosslinking, using a low‐temperature thermal cycling process. As with most polymeric materials, the mechanical properties of the resultant PVA are isotropic, as oppose to most soft tissues, which are anisotropic. The objective of this research is to develop a PVA‐based hydrogel that not only mimics the nonlinear mechanical properties displayed by cardiovascular tissues, but also their anisotropic behavior. By applying a controlled strain to the PVA samples, while undergoing low‐temperature thermal cycling, we were able to create oriented mechanical properties in PVA hydrogels. The oriented stress–strain properties of porcine aorta were matched simultaneously by a PVA hydrogel prepared (10% PVA, cycle 3, 75% initial strain). This novel technique allows the controlled introduction of anisotropy to PVA hydrogel, and gives a broad range of control of its mechanical properties, for specific medical device applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006