Tough Engineering Hydrogels Based on Swelling–Freeze–Thaw Method for Artificial Cartilage
Mingming Hao, Yongfeng Wang, Lianhui Li, Yinhang Liu, Yuanyuan Bai, Weifan Zhou, Qifeng Lu, Fuqin Sun, Lili Li, Simin Feng, Wei Wei, Ting Zhang
Abstract
), a low friction coefficient (0.01), and a low energy loss factor (0.22). Notably, the TEHy remained remarkably resilient after 100 000 cycles of contact extrusion and remains intact after being compressed by an automobile with a weight of approximately 1600 kg. The TEHy also exhibited excellent water swelling resistance (volume and weight changes less than 5%). Moreover, skeletal muscle cells were able to readily attach and proliferate on the surface of TEHy-6, suggesting its outstanding biocompatibility. Overall, this swelling and freeze-thaw strategy solves the antifatigue and stability problems of PVA hydrogels under large static loads (>10 000 N) and provides an avenue to fabricate engineering hydrogels with strong antifatigue and antiswelling properties and ultralow friction for potential use as biomaterials in tissue engineering.