Dynamic–Mechanical Properties of Bioartificial Polymeric Materials

Abstract

Bioartificial polymeric materials represent a new class of polymeric materials based on blends of synthetic and natural polymers, designed with the purpose of producing new materials with enhanced properties with respect to the single components. The mechanical properties of bioartificial materials prepared using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) as synthetic components, and collagen (SC), gelatin, starch, hyaluronic acid (HA) and dextran as biological components, were investigated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The materials were prepared in the form of films or hydrogels and treated by glutaraldehyde (GTA) vapour or thermal dehydration in order to reduce their solubility in water. The results indicate that SC/PVA, gelatin/PVA and starch/PVA films behave as biphasic systems, showing good mechanical properties over a wide range of temperature. It was observed that the GTA procedure affects only the biological component of the SC/PVA and gelatin/PVA blends, whilst the thermal treatment influences mainly the synthetic polymer. In the case of HA/PVA hydrogels, a modulus variation was found with the HA content related to the organization degree and perfection of the PVA network structure. It seems evident that, in the experimental conditions used, dextran/PAA mixtures behave as miscible blends showing a glass transition intermediate between those of the pure components. With both untreated and GTA-treated gelatin/PMAA blends, it was not possible to evaluate the miscibility of the systems; it could only be affirmed that these materials show good mechanical properties over a wide range of temperature. © 1997 SCI.