Development of Foam-Infused Hydrogels for Nucleus Pulposus Replacement in a Human Spinal Disc

Investigating the rheological properties of hydrogel/foam composites under oscillation and compression to compare to bovine nucleus pulposus data for eventual application as a herniated spinal disc replacement. A variety of hydrogels were tested on their own to see which hydrogel had the ideal properties for the application, then a foam was infused into the hydrogel and the composites were examined. The primary concern was perfecting the composite combination of materials and the method to make them which produced the most repeatable and favorable results.