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Injectable silk fibroin/polyurethane composite hydrogel for nucleus pulposus replacement

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Abstract

In degenerative disc disease, an injectable hydrogel can fill a degenerate area completely, reduce the risk of implant migration and subsequent loss of height of the intervertebral disc, and minimise surgical defects. Here, we propose a method of preparing an injectable silk fibroin/polyurethane (SF/PU) composite hydrogel by chemical cross-linking under physiological conditions. Mechanical testing was used to determine the mechanical strength of the hydrogel. The impact of hydrogel height on the biomechanical properties was discussed to estimate the working capacity of the hydrogel for further clinical application. Rheological properties were also examined to assess the practical ability of the hydrogel for clinical application. Hydrogel injection and cell assessment is also of interest for clinical application. An SF/PU composite hydrogel can be injected through a small incision. A cell proliferation assay using bone marrow stromal cells showed positive cell viability and increased proliferation over a seven-day period in culture. Importantly, the hydrogel can be monitored in real-time using X-ray fluoroscopy during and after surgery according to the results of X-ray fluoroscopy examination, and shows good visibility based on X-ray assays. In particular, the hydrogel offers the clinically important advantage of visibility in CT and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Based on the results of the current study, the SF/AU composite hydrogel may offer several advantages for future application in nucleus pulposus replacement.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. Chen Han-Ming for SEM imaging, Mr. Chenlongkun for assistance with the MTT test. This work was supported by the science and technology department of Zhejiang province (491010-j30987).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, NO. 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Jingen Hu, Bin Chen, Fang Guo, Jingyu Du, Pengcheng Gu & Xiangjin Lin

  2. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering & The Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Polymer Materials, Anhui University, NO. 111 Jiu Long Road, Hefei, Anhui, China

    Weiping Yang, Hailong Zhang, Min Lu, Yiping Huang & Gewen Xu

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  1. Jingen Hu
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  2. Bin Chen
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  3. Fang Guo
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  6. Xiangjin Lin
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  9. Min Lu
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Correspondence to Xiangjin Lin.

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Hu, J., Chen, B., Guo, F. et al. Injectable silk fibroin/polyurethane composite hydrogel for nucleus pulposus replacement. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 23, 711–722 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4533-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4533-y

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