Influence of mechanical compressive loads on microstructurally aligned PVA xerogels

Abstract

Xerogels are attractive candidates for scaffolds in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Polyvinyl alcohol xerogels are extensively used for biomedical applications owing to their ease of synthesis, biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, these materials are challenged in terms of their weak mechanical properties and structural instabilities. This work is aimed to look into the morpho-mechanical response of transversely isotropic freeze-dried PVA xerogels under mechanical compressive loads. Microstructurally aligned PVA xerogels are synthesized using unidirectional freeze-drying technique. Uniaxial compressive tests are performed alongside viscoelastic characterization. The effect of mechanical compressive loads upon the xerogel microstructure is studied. Microbuckling of material fibers, creasing and wrinkling of the bulk xerogels are some of the microstructural and surface instabilities discussed.