Constitutive modelling of hydrolytic degradation in hydrogels

Biodegradable synthetic hydrogels have emerged as promising materials for tissue engineering and drug/cell delivery applications. However, their successful implementation requires precise understanding of the degradation response in terms mechanical properties, swelling, mass loss. In this work, we develop a thermodynamically-consistent continuum framework constitutive models coupled large deformation hydrolytic hydrogels. particular, propose evolution elastic modulus polymer loss based on description evolving network topology during hydrolysis. The theory is validated against experimental data two model hydrogel systems with different architectures, namely biodegradable Tetra-PEG PLA-b-PEG-b-PLA We also implemented our finite element software. show that capable simulating degradation-induced heterogeneous swelling scenarios relevant to biomedical Our could be useful design controlled behaviour.