title: Dynamic mechanical analysis and biomineralization of hyaluronan-polyethylene copolymers for potential use in osteochondral defect repair.
abstract: Treatment options for damaged articular cartilage are limited due to its lack of vasculature and its unique viscoelastic properties. This study was the first to fabricate a hyaluronan (HA)-polyethylene copolymer for potential use in the replacement of articular cartilage and repair of osteochondral defects. Amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of HA and high-density polyethylene (HA-co-HDPE) were fabricated with 10, 28 and 50 wt.% HA. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to assess the effect of varying constituent weight ratios on the viscoelastic properties of HA-co-HDPE materials. The storage moduli of HA-co-HDPE copolymers ranged from 2.4 to 15.0 MPa at physiological loading frequencies. The viscoelastic properties of the HA-co-HDPE materials were significantly affected by varying the wt.% of HA and/or crosslinking of the HA constituent. Cytotoxicity and the ability of the materials to support mineralization were evaluated in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells. HA-co-HDPE materials were non-cytotoxic, and calcium and phosphorus were present on the surface of the HA-co-HDPE materials 2 weeks after osteogenic differentiation of the bone marrow stromal cells. This study is the first to measure the viscoelastic properties and osseocompatibility of HA-co-HDPE for potential use in orthopedic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Campus Delivery 1374, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1374, USA.
authors.forename: Rachael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Oldinski
authors.forename: Timothy T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Ruckh
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Staiger
authors.forename: Ketul C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Popat
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D020959:Polyethylene; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid