Multicriteria Optimization of Nanocellulose-Reinforced Polyvinyl Alcohol and Pyrrolidone Hydrogels

Nuno Costa (), João Lourenço, Joana Cabalú, Ana Branco and Célio G. Figueiredo-Pina
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Nuno Costa: Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, ESTSetúbal, Campus do IPS, Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal
João Lourenço: Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, ESTSetúbal, Campus do IPS, Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal
Joana Cabalú: Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, ESTSetúbal, Campus do IPS, Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal
Ana Branco: Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Célio G. Figueiredo-Pina: Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, ESTSetúbal, Campus do IPS, Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-24

Abstract: Developing new materials for human cartilage replacement is a hot research topic. These materials have multiple properties of interest, so selecting a new material (hydrogel) is a multi-attribute decision-making problem. A case study illustrates the application of a structured approach and tools to solve this problem type. Ten hydrogels, most of which are new formulations, were evaluated based on three attributes. The weights assigned to the attributes were identified using three methods from the literature, in addition to those previously assigned by an expert. Since the hydrogel properties showed some variability, Monte Carlo simulations were carried out using triangular distribution. Ten thousand decision matrices were built and 10,000 rankings were generated by each of the ten multicriteria decision-making methods employed in this study. Ranking similarity was evaluated through the PS index, whose values ensure consistency and reliability of the results achieved. Rank acceptability and pairwise indexes were used to identify the most promising hydrogels. Two hydrogels were identified as the most promising for further study, for any of the four sets of weights used. Both are annealed nanocellulose-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol and pyrrolidone hydrogels. The robustness of this result is supported on the values of acceptability and pairwise indexes.

Keywords: biomedical; cartilage; decision-making; multi-attribute; simulation; Monte Carlo; desirability; similarity index; pairwise index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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