Liposome-doped hydrogel for implantable tissue

The fabrication, characterisation and optimisation of a PVA hydrogel loaded with trehalose-protected uni-lamellar liposomes produced by freeze thaw cycles is described. By avoiding chemical and heat triggers for cross-linking of the polymer network, for the first time a system has been prepared whose pH is maintained at the physiological value, making it an excellent candidate for implantable tissue applications and in vitro studies of/mimicking biological functions. A combination of cyro-SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, TEM (Transmission Emission Microscopy), DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) confirm that the liposomes are thermodynamically stable within the hydrogels.