CHAPTER 10: Biomedical Applications of Hydrogels: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Based Hydrogels for Embolotherapy and Drug Delivery

The biomedical uses of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) are wide-ranging and it has been used in the field of embolotherapy for many decades. Recent years have seen a move towards the use of calibrated hydrogel beads for more control over the embolization procedure. Chemical modification of the PVA to introduce ionic functionality has unlocked the potential of these hydrogel materials for drug delivery purposes. This chapter outlines the chemistry and properties of hydrogel beads composed of PVA-graft-(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate sodium salt) and how variation in hydrogel bead formulation provides for optimized properties for application in embolotherapy and drug delivery.