Tissue damage, from broken bones to worn cartilage, is an occurrence that most people face at some point, with surgery being a frequent consequence. This research aims to develop an intelligent delivery system based on hydrogels that could ultimately serve as an injectable tissue repair device. Hydrogels are polymer networks that, upon specific stimuli, absorb and release large amounts of liquids (500-1000% of their dry weight) without losing their physical shape. The goal is to create a biocompatible system that allows the instant release of monomers, catalysts, or initiators necessary for an in-situ polymerization for tissue repair. Additionally, pain-relieving drugs could be released this way. A variety of crosslinked and uncrosslinked biopolymers based on polysaccharides was investigated for their balance of stimuli-response, loading and release capabilities, as well as swelling and mechanical properties. The formation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM, served as one of the model polymerization reactions.

Injectable hydrogels as reservoirs in biomedical applications

245th National Meeting (2013)

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