Polyvinyl Alcohol

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a linear synthetic polymer prepared by the hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate.  Depending on the degree of polymerization and hydrolysis  of the precursor polymer, the physical properties of PVA can be customized to defined functional requirements.

The properties of PVA can be further modified by crosslinking to produce a material that is inert, viscoelastic and lubricious – attractive properties for medical device applications. A crosslinked PVA matrix is no longer water soluble, but can be swollen to produce a hydrogel, a gel where the swelling agent is water.  Typical device applications utilize hydrogel-forming properties of PVA.

PVA has been successfully used in medical device applications for over 20 years.  Extensive biocompatibility and functional performance testing have demonstrated the suitability of PVA for numerous applications including contact lenses, ocular wetting solutions, vascular embolic agents, hydrophilic coatings, tissue adhesion barriers and nerve guides.

Molecular structure of Polyvinyl Alcohol