Investigation of the properties of boron nitride doubled hydrojels

INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF BORON NITRIDE DOUBLED HYDROJELS Articular cartilage is a tissue with poor healing ability and current treatments are insufficient to repair degenerated tissue. In recent years, intensive studies have been carried out on biocompatible structures that can mimic cartilage tissue. Since articular cartilage is a three-dimensional hydrogel consisting of 80% water, the materials that can best mimic its properties are natural or synthetic hydrogels. Hyaluronic acid and chitosan, which are natural hydrogels, are polymers with advanced similar properties for cartilage tissue. Thanks to its viscoelastic structure, hyaluronic acid is the most suitable biopolymer for artificial joint fluids, but its mechanical properties are weak. In this study; Hybrid hydrogels were formulated by adding biocompatible hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) particles with superior lubricating properties into the sodium hyaluronate-chitosan hydrogel structure. The rheology of the hydrogel, chemical bonding (FTIR), image analysis (SEM) and antibacterial properties of hBN added at different rates of chitosan and hyaluronic acid were investigated. The hBN doped hydrogels with a chitosan/sodium hyaluronate volumetric ratio of 3/5 have injectable properties also they showed 99% and 87% recovery ability. Hydrogels have three-dimensional porous structure and BN has affected the pore structure of hydrogels. Boric acid added hydrogels showed antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumanni strain. Keywords: Hexagonal boron nitride, Hyaluronic acid, Chitosan, Cartillage tissue, Antibacterial activity.