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States of water, surface and rheological characterisation of a new biohydrogel as articular cartilage substitute
Author(s) -
Leone Gemma,
Bidini Alessandra,
Lamponi Stefania,
Magnani Agnese
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.3150
Subject(s) - materials science , rheology , microporous material , chemical engineering , articular cartilage , self healing hydrogels , covalent bond , cartilage , homogeneous , polymer chemistry , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , physics , pathology , engineering , anatomy , osteoarthritis , thermodynamics
PVA based hydrogel was synthesised using, as crosslinking agent, trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) and its morphology was modified inducing a microporous structure to obtain potential substitutes for cartilage tissue. The hydrogel was characterised by Infrared Spectroscopy combined with Time of flight mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) that confirmed the successful occurrence of crosslinking reaction, the hyphotised crosslinking arm and its homogeneous distribution. The mechanical spectra of the fully hydrated samples confirmed covalently crosslinked systems with a rheological behaviour similar to that of tibial cartilage. Further analysis in terms of water content measurements, thermal stability and cytotoxicity confirmed the applicability of such a hydrogel as cartilage substitute. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.