Poly(ether urethane) networks from renewable resources as candidate biomaterials: synthesis and characterization

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Polyurethanes are versatile polymers with applications in various fields.
• Developing sustainable and non-toxic polyurethanes is crucial for biomedical use.
• Epoxidized methyl oleate offers a renewable feedstock for polymer synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel poly(ether urethane) networks using sustainable materials.
• To investigate the effect of hard segment content on polymer properties.
• To evaluate the potential of these polyurethanes for biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of polyurethanes from epoxidized methyl-oleate-based polyether polyol, 1,3-propandiol, and l-lysine diisocyanate.
• Chemical and physical characterization of the synthesized polyurethanes.
• In vitro hydrolytic degradation studies and surface morphology analysis using scanning electron microscopy.

Main Results:

• Polyurethanes with varying hard segment contents were successfully synthesized.
• Hard segment content was identified as the primary factor influencing physical, mechanical, and degradation properties.
• Water uptake and degradation rates were observed to be dependent on the polymer's composition.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized polyurethanes exhibit tunable properties based on hard segment content.
• The materials demonstrate potential for diverse biomedical applications due to their adaptable characteristics.
• The use of non-toxic and renewable components enhances their suitability for medical use.