Characterization of Hydrogel Properties in the Advancement of Bio-Tribology

Nature-driven artifacts have the most precise form of tribological properties. Because of hydration lubrication, biological tissues like articular cartilage have the lowest friction and wear. However, these natural tissues are hard to repair in case of injury, accident, or fracture. Recent advances in bio-tribology include replacement material development like hydrogel through surface property analysis and using hydrogel as an ECM microenvironment for cell proliferation. Hydrogels are used as potential biological tissue development because of the biphasic low friction nature of the material as it contains almost 90% water content like biological tissue. Hydration lubrication enables improved surface characterization and improves tribological properties. The chapter will primarily concentrate on characterizing the surface and structure of hydrogels and exploring the potential they offer as substitutes for biological tissue.