Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogel

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel is a biomaterial that has many beneficial properties for use in soft tissue and organ replacement applications. Using a low temperature thermal cycling (LTTC) process, hydrogel materials with very high water contents and mechanical properties tuned to many soft tissues can be created. In addition, PVA hydrogel with anisotropic mechanical properties can also be created to mimic the properties of real soft tissues. Potential applications include soft tissue replacement, wound dressing and controlled release system.