Photocrosslinked methacrylated poly(vinyl alcohol)/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite hydrogels with enhanced mechanical strength and cell adhesion

Journal Article · Mon Oct 29 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Polymer Science. Part A, Polymer Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.29263· OSTI ID:1479826

Zhou, Ding ^[1]; Dong, Qi ^[1]; Liang, Kaili ^[1]; Xu, Weilin ^[1]; Zhou, Yingshan ^[2]; Xiao, Pu  ^[3]

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1. Key Laboratory of Green Processing and Functional Textiles of New Textile Materials, Ministry of Education Wuhan Textile University Wuhan 430073 People's Republic of China
2. Key Laboratory of Green Processing and Functional Textiles of New Textile Materials, Ministry of Education Wuhan Textile University Wuhan 430073 People's Republic of China, College of Materials Science and Engineering Wuhan Textile University Wuhan 430073 People's Republic of China
3. Research School of Chemistry Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601 Australia

ABSTRACT Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels with high water content, good load‐bearing property, low frictional behavior as well as excellent biocompatibility have been considered as promising cartilage replacement materials. However, the lack of sufficient mechanical properties and cell adhesion are two critical barriers for their application as cartilage substitutes. To address these problems, herein, methacrylated PVA with low degree of substitution of methacryloyl group has been synthesized first. Then, methacrylated PVA‐glycidyl methacrylate/hydroxyapatite (PVA‐GMA/Hap) nanocomposite hydrogels have been developed by the photopolymerization approach subsequently. Markedly, both pure PVA‐GMA hydrogel and PVA‐GMA/Hap nanocomposite hydrogels exhibit excellent performance in compressive tests, and they are undamaged during compressive stress–strain tests. Moreover, compared to pure PVA‐GMA hydrogels, 8.5‐fold, 7.4‐fold, and 14.2‐fold increase in fracture stress, Young's modulus and toughness, respectively, can be obtained for PVA‐GMA/Hap nanocomposite hydrogels with 10 wt % Hap nanoparticles. These enhancements can be ascribed to the intrinsic property of PVA‐GMA and strong hydrogen bonding interactions between PVA‐GMA chain and Hap nanoparticles. More interestingly, significant improvement in the cell adhesion can also be successfully achieved by incorporation of Hap nanoparticles. These biocompatible nanocomposite hydrogels have great potential to be used as cartilage substitutes. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1882–1889

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1479826
• Journal Information: Journal of Polymer Science. Part A, Polymer Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Polymer Science. Part A, Polymer Chemistry Vol. 57 Journal Issue: 18; ISSN 0887-624X
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English