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Published on: June 16, 2023
Polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers with inherent radiopacity for biomedical applications
S Kiran1, Nirmala R James, A Jayakrishnan
1Polymer Processing Laboratory, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Satelmond Palace Campus, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A
|July 21, 2012
Summary
New radiopaque polyurethanes (RPUs) were synthesized using an iodinated chain extender (IBPA). These noncytotoxic RPUs exhibit high radiopacity, making them suitable for medical applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers are widely used in biomedical applications.
- Introducing radiopacity is crucial for visualizing medical devices using X-ray imaging.
- Existing radiopaque materials often rely on fillers that can compromise mechanical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel radiopaque polyurethane elastomers (RPUs).
- To evaluate the radiopacity and cytotoxicity of the synthesized RPUs.
- To explore the influence of different soft segments on RPU properties.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of RPUs via reaction of MDI, IBPA, and various diols (polypropylene glycol, polycaprolactone diol, poly(hexamethylene carbonate) diol).
- Characterization using FTIR, contact angle, TGA, DMA, EDX, GPC, XRF, and X-radiography.
- Cytotoxicity assessment using L929 cells via direct contact test and MTT assay.
Main Results:
- All synthesized RPUs demonstrated high radiopacity, exceeding that of an aluminum wedge.
- Elemental analysis confirmed 18-19% iodine content in the polymer matrix.
- The RPUs showed radiopacity comparable to polymers containing 20 wt% barium sulfate.
- Diverse material properties were achieved by varying the diol soft segments.
- Cytotoxicity studies confirmed the noncytotoxic nature of the developed RPUs.
Conclusions:
- Novel radiopaque polyurethane elastomers (RPUs) were successfully synthesized using an iodinated chain extender (IBPA).
- These RPUs exhibit excellent radiopacity and are noncytotoxic, indicating their potential for medical device applications.
- The ability to tune properties by selecting different diols offers versatility for various biomedical uses.
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