Mechanically strong poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel with macropores and high porosity

The macroporous, high porosity and mechanically strong poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels were developed using agarose (AG) as the pore inducing agent. The AG not only incurs the formation of macropores by promoting the nucleation and growth of ice particles, but also strengthens the mechanical properties by increasing the crystallinity of PVA and the inter-molecular hydrogen bonds. The in vitro cell experiments imply that the obtained PVA hydrogels is cytocompatible and the chondrocytes can proliferate in the macropores.