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Full-Text Articles in Biomaterials
Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite Hydrogels For Intervertebral Disc Prostheses, Elaine Wong
Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite Hydrogels For Intervertebral Disc Prostheses, Elaine Wong
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Spinal fusion is currently the gold standard for surgical intervention of intervertebral disc (IVD) diseases leading to neck and back pain failing conservative treatments. However, fusion removes motion between the vertebrae and can result in adjacent level degeneration. Total disc replacement (TDR) is an emerging treatment alternative that preserves motion, but materials found in clinically available devices bear little resemblance to the properties of the native IVD. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels are biocompatible, have mechanical behaviour similar to natural tissues, and properties that can be tuned by varying polymer concentration and physical crosslinking through freeze-thaw cycling. Furthermore, their properties can …
Controlled Delivery Of Serp-1 Protein From Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Hydrogel, Karen L. Kennedy
Controlled Delivery Of Serp-1 Protein From Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Hydrogel, Karen L. Kennedy
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was selected and evaluated as a controlled drug delivery matrix for Serp-1, a potential new therapeutic with anti-inflammatory properties for control of restenosis. PVA hydrogels, containing a high water content, can be formed by physical crosslinking via a process involving freezing and thawing the material in multiple cycles. PVA, being a well known biomaterial, is suited for biomedical applications and the high water content and hydrophilicity provides a friendly environment for the delivery of large protein based drugs. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein, the controlled release properties of PVA were investigated. Release profiles …