Enhanced Cartilage Regeneration: Chemical, Mechanical, and In Vitro Analysis of Innovative TiO-Reinforced PVA Implants

Overview

Journal ACS Omega

Publisher American Chemical Society

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2025 Mar 10

PMID 40060854

Authors

Santosh Kumar B Y

Arun M Isloor

G C Mohan Kumar

Srirangam Prashanth

Anoop Penupolu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study focuses on developing a synthetic, biocompatible graft for treating cartilage lesions. One-dimensional titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) were incorporated into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel and processed using freeze-drying without chemical surfactants. Upon optimization of the composition, it was found that the incorporation of TNT altered the biomechanical properties without causing any adverse physiological effects. Annealing treatment further enhanced mechanical strength and energy dissipation, promoting elasticity. The hydrogel with 2 wt % TNT achieved maximum mechanical strength and the storage modulus values indicated elastic dominance, and biotribological tests showed cartilage-like frictional response via hydrodynamic lubrication. Against the microorganisms , , and , grafts showed significant antimicrobial activity. In vitro experiments demonstrated that these nanocomposite hydrogels supported adhesion, proliferation, and upregulation of cartilage-specific gene expression in human mesenchymal stem cells hMSCs. This suggests potential for promoting hMSC chondrogenic differentiation and accelerating cartilage regeneration.

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