A photopolymerized composite hydrogel and surgical implanting tool for a nucleus pulposus replacement. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schmocker, Andreas; Khoushabi, Azadeh; Frauchiger, Daniela A.; Gantenbein, Benjamin; Schizas, Constantin; Moser, Christophe; Bourban, Pierre-Etienne; Pioletti, Dominique P.
• Is Part Of: Biomaterials. Volume 88(2016)
• Page Start: 110
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Medical device -- poly(ethylene-glycol)dimethacrylate -- Minimally invasive surgery -- Nano-cellulose fibers -- Orthopedic implant -- Photopolymerization; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; Biocompatible Materials -- Periodicals; Biomatériaux -- Périodiques; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.02.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-9612

Abstract

Abstract: Nucleus pulposus replacements have been subjected to highly controversial discussions over the last 40 years. Their use has not yet resulted in a positive outcome to treat herniated disc or degenerated disc disease. The main reason is that not a single implant or tissue replacement was able to withstand the loads within an intervertebral disc. Here, we report on the development of a photo-polymerizable poly(ethylene glycol)dimethacrylate nano-fibrillated cellulose composite hydrogel which was tuned according to native tissue properties. Using a customized minimally-invasive medical device to inject and photopolymerize the hydrogel insitu, samples were implanted through an incision of 1 mm into an intervertebral disc of a bovine organ model to evaluate their long-term performance. When implanted into the bovine disc model, the composite hydrogel implant was able to significantly re-establish disc height after surgery (p < 0.0025). The height was maintained after 0.5 million loading cycles (p < 0.025). The mechanical resistance of the novel composite hydrogel material combined with the minimally invasive implantation procedure into a bovine disc resulted in a promising functional orthopedic implant for the replacement of the nucleus pulposus.