| abstract |
Certain features and aspects are directed to a hydrogel composition comprising at least one polymer with functional groups including alcohol groups, acid groups, and amide groups and where the ratio of the functional alcohol groups to functional acid groups in the hydrogel composition ranges from about 16:1 to about 3:2. In certain examples, a method of repairing an articulating surface in a body using the inventive composition is described. The inventive hydrogel composition can be produced, for example, by blending two or more polymers to achieve the desired ratio of functional groups, reacting at least one polymer with a reagent that results in the formation of alcohol, acid, and/or amide functional groups of the desired ratio, and/or polymerizing at least one monomer to achieve the desired ratio of functional groups. |