Sterilization studies of hydrogel nanocomposites designed for possible biomedical applications before in vivo research

Abstract

This study emphasized the importance of hydrogel-based therapy in repairing cartilage tissue and discussed the nanoscopic requirements for the physical sterilization of hydrogels, which are repairable, biochemically compatible with cartilage structure, and shape memory under mechanical effects.The nanostructured and the shape memory hydrogel composites, previously designed, synthesized, and nano -structurally characterized by our group, were used as material in the present study. Samples are including poly (N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (poly (DMAA) chains, n-octadecyl acrylate (C18A) segments and with/without lauryl methacrylate (LM).The study consists of four main sections in which physical sterilization processes (with electromagnetic waves from low energy (UV) to high energy (X-ray and Gamma-ray) are applied, structural changes are determined at microscopic and nanoscopic scale, and biofilm formations in the mentioned hydrogel materials are evaluated.The present study investigated these hydrogels' potential as artificial cartilage or cartilage tissue scaffolds. To initiate in vivo studies, it was aimed to determine the most appropriate physical sterilization method.In the result of the study, the most convenient hydrogel sample for surgical (in vivo) research, the useful physical sterilization methods, and the ability to resist biofilm formation was determined for the sample of N:3, [DMMA/C18A/LM, (70/30/0.0) l (Pre stretching ratio) = 1.8]. UV applications were also determined as the most generally suitable sterilization method for these hydrogels. As the pre-stretching ratio increases, the emergence of more compact and globular nano formations in hydrogel structures also affects the bioactive properties. It was also shown that, with the help of the usage of energetic electromagnetic waves for sterilizations, the new 3D nano aggregation morphologies might be created in the hydrogel structures.