Preparation and properties of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) glycerol gel as biomimetic cartilage replacement material

Abstract

According to the material research that human articular cartilage is expected to be repaired after injury, a new artificial cartilage-like material was prepared by thermal polymerization in this experiment. Under water bath insulation and initiator conditions, hydroxyethyl methacrylate(CH2 CCH3COOCH2CH2OH,HEMA) and medical glycerol(C3H8O3) were polymerized into a new gel. And the surface morphology was compared with that of porcine cartilage, and the mechanical properties such as compressive strength and elasticity were tested. By analyzing and characterizing with FTIR spectra, the host of gel is still PHEMA, and glycerol exists in gel phase. The hardness of gel decreases with the increase of glycerol ratio, while the surface roughness of gel increases. When the mass ratio of HEMA to glycerol is 1:1-1:3, the hardness of the gel is close to that of pig cartilage, and the surface is smooth under the conditions of 1:1 and 1:2. Gels of four mass ratios have good compressive strength and elasticity. When the mass ratio is 1:1, the compressive properties and comprehensive properties are the best. The experimental results indicate that PHEMA and glycerol gel polymers have good mechanical properties as artificial cartilage materials, they may provide further investigation for clinical trials.

Keywords

• poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)
• glycerol
• gel
• artificial cartilage
• mechanical property