Event Abstract Back to Event Evaluation of physical property for syndiotactic PVA-H by hot pressing method Tomoyo Sakaguchi1, Shusaku Nagano2, Mitsuo Hara3, Yoshihiro Kimura4, Akinobu Oharuda4 and Kazuaki Matsumura1 1 Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, School of Materials Science, Japan 2 Nagoya University, The Nagoya University Venture Business Laboratory, Japan 3 Nagoya University, Graduate School of Engineering, Japan 4 JAPAN VAM & POVAL CO.,LTD., Reserch and Developement Dept., Japan Introduction: We have investigated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel as a biomaterial for a replacement for artificial articular cartilage because of its excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and low friction coefficient[1],[2]. PVA hydrogels are physical gels with small crystalline as crosslinking points and have been prepared by low temperature crystallization method[3]. In order to prepare PVA hydrogels having high mechanical properties, a mixed solvent of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and water should be used to prevent freezing of the solvent and phase separation during freezing. In our previous study, we successfully prepared transparent PVA hydrogel without using toxic DMSO from high concentrated PVA aqueous solution by hot pressing method[4]. In this study, we intended to prepare mechanically stronger hydrogels from syndiotactic PVA (s-PVA) by using hot pressing method because s-PVA is difficult to be dissolved in water by usual heating and stirring method due to its high crystallinity. Material and Methods: In hot pressing method, atactic PVA (a-PVA) or s-PVA (Japan VAM & POVAL Co. Ltd., degree of polymerization 1700, degree of saponification 99.0%), [s]-traid value, a-PVA : 30%, s-PVA : 36%) was mixed with H2O at a concentration of 40 w/w%. The swollen PVA/H2O was pressed at 0-20 MPa and 95-130 oC for 30 min, then kept at room temperature without drying for gelation one week. After 2 days vacuum drying, gels were heated in vacuum to control the water content. While gelation time, we conducted tensile test to evaluate the gelation speed of each PVA hydrogel from Young’s modulus. And we also measured small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to evaluate the developing speed of crystalline in PVA hydrogel. Results and Discussion: By hot pressing method, transparent hydrogels were obtained with s-PVA, because of the fast crystallization, even at room temperature. Fig 1. Syndiotactic PVA hydrogel by hot pressing method Water content was well controlled by heating of dried gel due to the increasing of crystallinity. When we use a-PVA, around 35 % is minimum water content. But when we use s-PVA, we succeeded in preparing around 30 % water content PVA hydrogel. Tensile test revealed that s-PVA hydrogel showed higher Young’s modulus in each gelation time, showing faster gelation than a-PVA hydrogel . Fig 2. Time dependence of Young’s modulus during gelation time Faster crystallization in s-PVA was confirmed by SAXS measurement. It revealed that diffraction peak in s-PVA hydrogel appeared at one day after preparation. On the other hand, diffraction peak of a-PVA, appeared at 30 days after preparation. Conclusion: By using s-PVA, we succeeded in preparing transparent PVA hydrogel with higher mechanical property and lower water content than a-PVA. And s-PVA hydrogel showed faster gelation and crystallization time than a-PVA hydrogel. From these results, mechanically robust hydrogel which might be suitable for the articular cartilage implant could be developed by using hot pressing method and s-PVA.
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