title: An evaluation of the biocompatibility properties of a salt-modified polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel for a knee meniscus application.
abstract: The treatment of irreparable knee meniscus tears remains a major challenge for the orthopaedic community. The main purpose of this research was to analyse the biocompatibility properties of a salt-modified polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel, in order to assess its potential for use as an artificial meniscal implant. Aqueous polyvinyl alcohol was treated with a sodium sulphate solution to precipitate out the polyvinyl alcohol resulting in a pliable hydrogel. Cytotoxicological analysis indicates that PVA/sodium sulphate hydrogels display a non-toxic disposition and were found to be compatible with the L929 fibroblast cell line.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Industrial Services and Design, Athlone Institute of Technology, Co. Westmeath, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Industrial Services and Design, Athlone Institute of Technology, Co. Westmeath, Ireland. Electronic address: jkennedy@ait.ie.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C062364:polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol
keywords: Biocompatibility; Cytotoxicological analysis; Hydrogel; Meniscus; Polyvinyl alcohol