Compressive Modulus of PVA Hydrogel by Varying Time of Freezing and Thawing

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have garnered significant attention in biomedical applications due to their tunable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and non-toxic nature. This study focuses on the development of PVA hydrogels through the freeze-thaw (FT) method, investigating the impact of varying freezing and thawing durations on their compressive modulus. The hydrogels, prepared with 10 wt% and 15 wt% PVA concentrations, underwent FT cycles with two different thawing times: equal freeze-thaw durations (24F24T) and reduced thawing time (21F3T). The results reveal a direct correlation between PVA concentration, FT cycle count, and compressive modulus, with higher concentrations and increased cycles leading to enhanced mechanical properties and the percentage of increment varying between 17% to 58%. Conversely, shorter thawing times resulted in reduced compressive modulus, which up to 38%, due to the formation of larger, non-uniform pores and less dense network structures. The study underscores the importance of optimizing the freeze-thaw process to tailor the mechanical properties of PVA hydrogels for specific biomedical applications, such as artificial cartilage, where precise control over compressive modulus is crucial.