Abstract

Hydrogels are a class of material that have garnered a great deal of attention across the domain of tissue engineering as potential candidates for tissue mimicking materials. Their softness and customizability make them very versatile in their applications and allows their specific properties to be optimized based on the intended applications. This thesis explores the viability of hydrogels as tissue mimicking materials. First, a comprehensive literature review introduces the mechanical properties of the soft tissues around the knee, specifically skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. This chapter also outlines different strategies used to improve the performance of hydrogels in mimicking the soft tissues around the knee, which is the biggest joint in the human body. Next, the experimental section of the thesis outlines the development of a hydrogel using solvent exchange and annealing. This chapter discusses the improved compressive mechanical properties of the developed hydrogel, as well as the impacts of glycerol and thermal annealing on the hydrogel.