Frictional properties of physically cross-linked PVA hydrogels as artificial cartilage

Physically cross-linked PVA gels (freeze-thawed PVA gel and cast-dried PVA gel) are used as biocompatible materials since special chemicals were not used in their preparation. Cast-dried PVA gels are therefore promising as candidate materials for artificial cartilage because of their excellent frictional property. In this study, three types of gels-freeze-thawed gels, cast-dried gels and hybrid gels which are laminated gels consisting of both cast-dried layer and freeze-thawed layer were prepared and analyzed. The frictional behaviors of these three PVA hydrogels were examined in reciprocating test. Further, the effects of sterilization with ethanol on frictional behaviors of these PVA hydrogels were evaluated.