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Biodegradable poly(ether ester urethane)urea elastomers based on poly(ether ester) triblock copolymers and
Jianjun Guan1, Michael S Sacks, Eric J Beckman
1McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 100 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
Biomaterials
|October 29, 2003
Summary
Biodegradable poly(ether ester urethane)urea elastomers (PEEUUs) offer tunable properties for biomedical uses. Surface modifications enhanced cell adhesion, demonstrating their potential for advanced medical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Biomedical applications require polymers with elastomeric properties, tunable biodegradation, and cytocompatibility.
- Existing materials often lack a combination of these essential characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a series of biodegradable poly(ether ester urethane)urea elastomers (PEEUUs).
- To evaluate the mechanical properties, biodegradation rates, and cytocompatibility of PEEUUs.
- To investigate surface modification strategies for improving endothelial cell adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Poly(ether ester) triblock copolymers synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone with polyethylene glycol (PEG).
- PEEUUs synthesized using triblock copolymers, butyl diisocyanate, and putrescine as a chain extender.
- Mechanical testing (tensile strength, breaking strain), water absorption, biodegradation studies, and cell culture assays (cytotoxicity, cell adhesion) were performed.
- Surface modification using ammonia gas radio-frequency glow discharge and Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser peptide immobilization.
Main Results:
- PEEUUs exhibited low glass transition temperatures, high tensile strengths (8-20 MPa), and large breaking strains (325-560%).
- Increased PEG length or decreased poly(caprolactone) length enhanced water absorption and biodegradation rates.
- No cytotoxicity was observed from PEEUU biodegradation products.
- Initial endothelial cell adhesion was low but significantly improved after surface modification with peptide immobilization.
Conclusions:
- Biodegradable PEEUUs possess tunable mechanical and degradation properties suitable for biomedical applications.
- Surface modification strategies can effectively enhance endothelial cell adhesion, overcoming limitations of inherent hydrophilicity.
- These PEEUUs show promise for applications demanding high strength, flexibility, and controlled biological interaction.