Abstract: An artificial meniscus, a base material of which is a hydrogel having a semi-interpenetrating network structure or an interpenetrating network structure (e.g., a linear polymer or a network structure composing the hydrogel is a polymer of an electrically charged unsaturated monomer and/or an electrically neutral unsaturated monomer or a crosslinked product thereof or/and a naturally occurring macromolecule or a crosslinked product thereof.), which can maintain moderate mechanical properties even in the case of application for an extended period of time between the joints where the severest mechanical environment is found in an organism, and which has no fear of causing osteoarthritis.

Abstract: Provided is a medical material which enables a novel treatment method for cartilage regeneration being different from a treatment method through transplantation of autologous cartilage, a cartilage alternative or undifferentiated cells. Provided is a bone-filling type agent for inducing cartilage regeneration comprising a hydrogel which contains, as a monomer unit, an acid having an acidic group and/or a salt obtained by adding a metal to an acidic group and does not contain an interpenetrating network structure or a semi-interpenetrating network structure composed of two or more polymers. The bone-filling type agent for inducing cartilage regeneration can induce natural cartilage regeneration in the body by filling it in a hole or a groove provided in subchondral bone beneath cartilage defect.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a medical material which enables a new method for cartilage tissue regeneration treatment based on an entirely new concept unlike a treatment method by transplantation of autologous cartilage tissue, a cartilage alternative or undifferentiated cells. The invention provides a bone filler for cartilage tissue regeneration comprising hydrogel having an interpenetrating network structure formed by two or more crosslinked network polymers or a semi-interpenetrating network structure formed by a crosslinked network polymer and a linear polymer. By filling the bone filler of the invention in a hole or a groove provided in subchondral bone just under damaged cartilage tissue, regeneration of the cartilage tissue or both the cartilage tissue and the subchondral bone can be promoted.

Abstract: A cell culture scaffold containing a gel having a network structure comprised of a synthetic polymer such that cultured cells spread in a shorter time and the number of adsorbed cultured cells per unit area is larger than in the case of using a gel having a network structure comprised of polyacrylic acid, while taking advantage of synthetic polymers with low manufacturing cost, easy quality control and no risk of virus infection in cultured cell. Used as the cell culture scaffold is a gel containing a synthetic polymer obtained by polymerization or copolymerization of a monomer having a sulfonic group such as p-styrenesulfonic acid sodium salt (NaSS) and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt (NaAMPS).

Abstract: A cell culture scaffold containing a gel having a network structure comprised of a synthetic polymer such that cultured cells spread in a shorter time and the number of adsorbed cultured cells per unit area is larger than in the case of using a gel having a network structure comprised of polyacrylic acid, while taking advantage of synthetic polymers with low manufacturing cost, easy quality control and no risk of virus infection in cultured cell. Used as the cell culture scaffold is a gel containing asynthetic polymer obtained by polymerization or copolymerization of a monomer having a sulfonic group such as p-styrenesulfonic acid sodium salt (NaSS) and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt (NaAMPS).

Abstract: An artificial meniscus, a base material of which is a hydrogel having a semi-interpenetrating network structure or an interpenetrating network structure (e.g., a linear polymer or a network structure composing the hydrogel is a polymer of an electrically charged unsaturated monomer and/or an electrically neutral unsaturated monomer or a crosslinked product thereof or/and a naturally occurring macromolecule or a crosslinked product thereof.), which can maintain moderate mechanical properties even in the case of application for an extended period of time between the joints where the severest mechanical environment is found in an organism, and which has no fear of causing osteoarthritis.

Abstract: A low friction hydrogel, wherein a linear chain polymer is admixed with or graft-polymerized to a polymer gel; and a method for preparing the hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibits improved low friction property over a conventional material.