A Highly Porous Hydrogel that improves tissue growth

Massachusetts General Hospital
posted on 05/12/2011

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Technology: This new manufacturing process creates a highly porous hydrogel that stimulates any tissue to grow within the pores of the structure. The process blends polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene-co-vinyl alcohol (EVAL), polyacrylamide-co-acrylic acid copolymer (PAAm-co-AAc) or other copolymer blends. This process creates a hybrid layer whereby one layer has stronger mechanical property that can mimic the bone; and another layer has pore structures for enhancement of cell growth and cartilage repair. The current process of using degradable polymeric scaffolds to deliver cells in-situ has challenges because the scaffold structures are weak, which cause physiological and technical problems. This hydrogel is stronger and will improve the clinical outcome of the surgery. Applications: The hydrogels are excellent for cell scaffolds and cartilage repair due to their high porosity and their interconnectivity for allowing better cell growth. Highly porous PVA hydrogel enables a hydrophilic and mechanically strong environment for various types of cells such as chondrogeneic, nucleous pulposus and annular fibrous cells to grow. Advantages: Current tissue engineering technology has limitation in regenerate of cells due to poor mechanical strength of the cell scaffolds. Our hydrogels have unique properties that are biocompatible, aqueous, viscious and mechanical strength that help to create a better environment for cell scaffolds.