Effect of Gamma Ray Irradiation on Friction Property of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Cast-Drying on Freeze-Thawed Hybrid Gel
Saori Sasaki,
Seiji Omata,
Teruo Murakami,
Naotsugu Nagasawa,
Mitsumasa Taguchi,
Atsushi Suzuki
Affiliations
Saori Sasaki
Research Center for Advanced Biomechanics, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Seiji Omata
Research Center for Advanced Biomechanics, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Teruo Murakami
Research Center for Advanced Biomechanics, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Naotsugu Nagasawa
Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Watanuki 1233, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan
Mitsumasa Taguchi
Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Watanuki 1233, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan
Atsushi Suzuki
Research Institute of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a biocompatible polymer with low toxicity. It is possible to prepare physically cross-linked PVA gels having hydrogen bonds without using a cross-linking agent. The newly reported physically cross-linked PVA cast-drying (CD) on freeze-thawed (FT) hybrid gel has an excellent friction property, which is expected to be applied as a candidate material for artificial cartilage. Gamma ray sterilization for clinical applications usually causes additional chemical cross-linking and changes physical properties of gels. In this study, CD on FT hybrid gels were irradiated using gamma rays at a different dose rate and irradiance. The results showed the optimized irradiation conditions for gamma irradiated gels to retain excellent friction characteristics.
