Yanxuan Ma

Heterogeneous PVA hydrogels with micro-cells of both positive and negative Poisson's ratios.

Many models describing the deformation of general foam or auxetic materials are based on the assumption of homogeneity and order within the materials. However, non-uniform heterogeneity is often an inherent nature in many porous materials and composites, but difficult to measure. In this work, inspired by the structures of auxetic materials, the porous PVA hydrogels with internal inby-concave pores (IICP) or interconnected pores (ICP) were designed and processed. The deformation of the PVA hydrogels under compression was tested and their Poissons ratio was characterized. The results indicated that the size, shape and distribution of the pores in the hydrogel matrix had strong influence on the local Poissons ratio, which varying from positive to negative at micro-scale. The size-dependency of their local Poissons ratio reflected and quantified the uniformity and heterogeneity of the micro-porous structures in the PVA hydrogels.

Mineralization behavior and interface properties of BG-PVA/bone composite implants in simulated body fluid

Due to the non-bioactivity and poor conjunction performance of present cartilage prostheses, the main work here is to develop the bioactive glass-polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel articular cartilage/bone (BG-PVA/bone) composite implants. The essential criterion for a biomaterial to bond with living bone is well-matched mechanical properties as well as biocompatibility and bioactivity. In vitro studies on the formation of a surface layer of carbonate hydroxyl apatite (HCA) and the corresponding variation of the properties of biomaterials are imperative for their clinical application. In this paper, the mineralization behavior and variation of the interface properties of BG-PVA/bone composites were studied in vitro by using simulated body fluid (SBF). The mineralization and HCA layer formed on the interface between the BG-PVA hydrogel and bone in SBF could provide the composites with bioactivity and firmer combination. The compression property, shear strength and interface morphology of BG-PVA/bone composite implants varying with the immersion time in SBF were characterized. Also, the influence laws of the immersion time, content of BG in the composites and aperture of bones to the mineralization behavior and interface properties were investigated. The good mineralization behavior and enhanced conjunction performance of BG-PVA/bone composites demonstrated that this kind of composite implant might be more appropriate cartilage replacements.