Fabrication of Zinc(II) Mediated Poly(Acrylamide Co Acrylic Acid) Hydrogel with Thixotropic and Tribological Properties

Hydrogels have emerged as promising candidates for biomedical applications, such as replacing natural articular cartilage, owing to their unique viscoelastic properties. However, sufficient mechanical properties, self-healing ability, and adhesive nature are some issues limiting its application window. Here, a facile one-pot synthesis of dual cross-linked zinc-coordinated copolymer hydrogels is presented. The network structure of the copolymer hydrogels is strategically developed via dynamic and reversible physical cross-linking by Zn²⁺ ions and simultaneous covalent cross-linking through a covalent cross-linker viz methylene bisacrylamide. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis have thoroughly characterized the structure of the synthesized hydrogels. The introduction of Zn²⁺ offers dynamic and reversible complexation, leading to excellent mechanical properties and self-healing features. Moreover, the percentage of the equilibrium water content of zinc-coordinated copolymer hydrogel samples is comparable with that of natural articular cartilage. The Shear sliding study shows the dominant adhesive behavior of HGel-Zn(NO₃)₂ sample compared to the parent HGel sample. This facile dual cross-linked hydrogel, HGel-Zn(NO₃)_2, with a combination of good mechanical properties, efficient self-recovery, adequate water content, and favorable adhesive nature, seems very promising to mimic the articular cartilage.