Date of Award
Spring 5-15-2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering
Advisor(s)
Jain, Era
Subject Categories
Chemical Engineering | Engineering
Abstract
Trauma or repeated injury to the joint can result in focal cartilage defects, which significantly increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Cartilage being avascular has limited self-healing capacity. The current method for treating cartilage defects at early stages involves implantation of autologous chondrocytes with or without a scaffold through invasive surgery; however, invasive surgery can bring pain to patients and post-operative infection risks. Therefore, injectable and biodegradable biomaterials have piqued people's interest. In the current research, we designed a hybrid double network (DN) cryogel by combining multi-arm PEG acrylate and alginate as two networks and crosslinking them at -20°C. Through different characterizations (SEM, mechanical strength, swelling test, etc.), we found that the DN cryogel has a macroporous interconnected structure, high water uptake capacity, and can support chondrocyte growth and extracellular matrix synthesis. These features make it possible for the cryogel to be used as a scaffold for cartilage to treat cartilage defects.
Key words: Cartilage defect, double network cryogels, macroporous interconnectionstructure
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Kaixiang, "Hybrid Double Network Cryogels Scaffold for Repair of Local Cartilage Defect" (2022). Theses - ALL. 617.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/617
