To
provide a novel approach for the clinical treatment of cartilage
tissue defects, we prepared a new type of magnetic nanocomposite hydrogel
with an optimal raw material ratio using Fe3O4, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and type-II collagen (COLII). Briefly,
five groups of PVA and collagen hydrogel matrices with different mass
ratios were prepared by a combination of repeated thawing cycles and
foam-frozen ice crystal separation methods. Microscopic characterization
was conducted using electron microscopy, and the biomechanical properties
of each group of hydrogels were then tested. The highest performing
component hydrogel matrix was selected after which Fe3O4 with different mass ratios was introduced to construct a
new Fe3O4/PVA/COLII hydrogel. The prepared composite
hydrogels were also microscopically characterized using electron microscopy
along with scanning, measurements for porosity and moisture content,
and biomechanical, infrared spectrum and degradation performance testing.
CCK-8 detection and staining to determine the amount of living and
dead cells were also performed. Collectively, these results showed
that PVA/COLII,95:5 was the optimal hydrogel matrix. Using this hydrogel
matrix, five groups of composite hydrogels with different Fe3O4 mass ratios were then prepared. There was no significant
difference in the microscopic characteristics between these different
hydrogels. Fe3O4/PVA/COLII,5:95:5 had better
physical properties as well as swelling performance and cell compatibility.
The PVA/COLII,95:5 hydrogel matrix was determined to be the best,
while the new magnetic nanocomposite hydrogel Fe3O4/PVA/COLII,5:95:5 had good, comprehensive properties.