Characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) based composites for use as a replacement meniscus

Injuries of the meniscus occur frequently and often lead to degeneration in the knee. Currently no adequate procedure or technology is available for injuries that occur in the avascular section of the meniscus. A majority of the current issues would be absolved by creating a synthetic polymer capable of being molded to the size and shape of the meniscus and tailored to match properties. In this study the mechanical and swelling characteristics of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels reinforced with polypropylene fibers were analyzed. Results indicate modification of PVA hydrogels using both polymer concentration and the number of freeze-thaw cycles can yield gels that match the compressive modulus of the human meniscus. Furthermore, the tensile modulus of PVA can be increased using polypropylene fiber reinforcement. Hydrogel swelling studies show a dependence on initial polymer concentration and swelling medium used.