Resorbable polyacrylic hydrogels derived from vitamin E and their application in the healing of tendons

A hydrogel containing vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) was prepared by free rad ical polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and alpha-tocophe ryl methacrylate (VEMA), the latter being synthesized previously to its use . The hydrogel containing 20 wt % of VEMA showed equilibrium water content in the range of those of hydrogel networks, at any pH. The swelling of the hydrogel followed Fick's law, indicating that sorption of water molecules i s controlled by diffusion, although the values of diffusion coefficients fo r the VEMA-containing hydrogel were lower than those of poly-HEMA in any me dium. Surface characterization of the VEMA-containing hydrogel revealed a d ecrease in the surface energy of solid owing to a decrease of the polar com ponent mainly. The application of finely powdered xerogel of HEMA-VEMA copo lymer bearing 20 wt % of the vitamin E derivative gave a very fast and posi tive response showing an activated regeneration capacity, probably due to t he stimulation of the cellular proliferation or the more plausible effect, the cellular protection associated to the antioxidant properties of the vit amin E residue. (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.