Alginate/PVA/chitosan injection composites as scaffold material for nucleus pulposus regeneration

Lower Back Pain (LBP) is common healthproblemin societywithprevalence80-85%. One of the causes of LBP is Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (HNP). This disease occurs in intervertebral discs (IVD), supporting the spine, found a gel fluid called Nucleus pulposus (NP) at the center surrounded by 15-20 concentric thin layers of the Annulus fibrosus (AF). This gel that will come out through AF and nerve pinched behind which makes sufferer feel pain and numb. Handling HNP with physical therapy only reduce the pain and not totally cured. While the surgery use discectomy method by eliminating the protruding parts NP or in whole, but has some drawbacks, such as: high cost, wide surgical incisions, probably occurrence of bleeding or other neurological disorders. Solving problem with find new methods that are faster, easier, and more affordable, we analyze using of alginate/PVA composite with chitosan suspense as a reinforcement as hydrogel injectable material to replace NP. Independent variable is chitosan percentage each sample, as much 5; 10; 15%. This study as a purpose to know mechanical properties, biocompatible, injectable performance, viscosity of alginate/PVA/chitosan, SEM-EDX test and FTIR test. The best result got is addition chitosan 15% appropriate as NP replacement.