Wear Behavior Characterization of Hydrogels Constructs for Cartilage Tissue Replacement

This paper aims to characterize the wear behavior of hydrogel constructs designed for human articular cartilage replacement. To this purpose, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) 10% w/v and gellan gum (GG) 1.5% were used reproduce superior (SUP) layer PEGDA 15% GG deep (DEEP) layer, with or without graphene oxide (GO). These materials (SUP DEEP) analyzed alone in combination mimic zonal architecture cartilage. The developed tested using a four-station displacement control knee joint simulator under bovine calf serum. Roughness micro-computer tomography (µ-CT) measurements evidenced that hydrogels showed worse both terms roughness increase loss uniformly distributed density than PEGDA. simultaneous presence GO contributed keeping construct’s characteristics. Raman spectra samples unreacted C=C bonds all hydrogels. degree crosslinking increased along series SUP < DEEP + GO. groups samples, due washout serum aqueous environment. decreased > DEEP, further confirming photo-crosslinking starting plays key role determining their behavior. ?-CT spectroscopy proved be suitable techniques structure composition