Publication: Development and characterization of biodegradable hydroxyapatite- incorporated hydrogel constructs for bone recovery applications
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Date
2025-09-01
Authors
Yang, Bingqian
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Abstract
This study focuses on the development and optimization of polyvinyl alcohol/ sodium alginate/ glycerol/ hydroxyapatite (PVA/SA/GL/HA) composite hydrogels for bone tissue engineering. A two-step optimization strategy was employed: first, the glycerol (GL) content in PVA/SA hydrogels was varied to identify the optimal concentration for achieving balanced swelling behaviour, mechanical strength, and water retention. The results demonstrated that the hydrogel with 25% GL showed superior performance, achieving a compressive modulus of ~0.11 MPa, equilibrium swelling ratio of ~178.3%, and water content of ~70.08%, attributed to hydrogen bonding between GL and water molecules. In the second stage, HA was incorporated to improve bioactivity. Among the formulations, 10% HA provided optimal reinforcement, increasing compressive strength to ~0.375 MPa while maintaining sufficient elasticity and water content. Bioactivity tests in simulated body fluid showed a significant decrease in Ca²⁺ concentration, confirming bone-like apatite formation. Characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the successful formation of the composite hydrogel and the incorporation of HA within the polymeric matrix. The optimized PVA/SA/GL-25%/HA-10% hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical integrity, water retention, and bioactivity, making it a promising scaffold for bone regeneration applications.