Preparation and characterization of PVA hydrogels for bio-fill

• Grant number: 13/19543-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: March 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Andreia de Araújo Morandim
• Grantee: Samantha Regina Rubio
• Host Institution: Centro Universitário FEI (UNIFEI). Campus de São Bernardo do Campo. São Bernardo do Campo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently many studies are being conducted in order to obtain possible substitutes of the vitreous humor, nontoxic, and doesn't provide the development of various eye problems, such as silicone oil. In this context, hydrogels have shown promising future as a substitute for vitreous humor, especially those synthesized from polyvinyl alcohol. Thus, during the development of this project will be obtained polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels using different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and the crosslinking agent (glutaraldehyde - GLUT) in order to obtain a material that has characteristics common to vitreous humor as density, viscosity and refractive index. This will use a factorial experimental planning with central composite rotational design (DCCR), also called star, aiming at reducing the number of experiments required for optimization of the conditions for obtaining a hydrogel. The input variables are of polyvinyl alcohol concentration and glutaraldehyde concentration. The output variables are the density, viscosity and refractive index. After obtaining the hydrogel in optimal condition in triplicate samples are dried and the films will be characterized by obtaining spectra in the infrared region, analyzes of DSC and swelling index using 0.9% NaCl solution (w/w).