Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Thermoresponsive, Redox-Polymerized Cellulosic Hydrogels Undergo In Situ Gelation And Restore Intervertebral Disc Biomechanics Post Discectomy, Devika Varma, H. A. Lin, R. G. Long, G. T. Gold, A. C. Hecht, J. C. Iadridis, Steven B. Nicoll

Publications and Research

Back and neck pain are commonly associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Structural augmentation of diseased nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue with biomaterials could restore degeneration-related IVD height loss and degraded biomechanical behaviors; however, effective NP replacement biomaterials are not commercially available. This study developed a novel, crosslinked, dual-polymer network (DPN) hydrogel comprised of methacrylated carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and methylcellulose (MC), and used in vitro, in situ and in vivo testing to assess its efficacy as an injectable, in situ gelling, biocompatible material that matches native NP properties and restores IVD biomechanical behaviors. Thermogelling MC was required to enable consistent and timely …