Biodegradable radiopaque iodinated poly(ester urethane)s containing poly(ε-caprolactone) blocks: synthesis,...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Biodegradable polymers are crucial for biomedical applications.
• Radiopacity is essential for tracking implants and devices in vivo.
• Current biodegradable polymers often lack intrinsic radiopacity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel biodegradable radiopaque iodinated poly(ester-urethane) (I-PU) materials.
• To investigate the effects of iodinated bisphenol A (IBPA) incorporation on material properties.
• To evaluate the cytocompatibility and degradation behavior of the synthesized I-PUs.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of I-PUs via coupling reaction of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) diisocyanate and IBPA.
• Characterization using FT-IR, NMR, GPC, DSC, TGA, and WAXD.
• Assessment of radiopacity via X-radiography and degradation via enzymatic tests.
• Cytocompatibility evaluation using rat adipose-derived cells.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized I-PUs with varying compositions and intrinsic X-ray visibility.
• Increasing IBPA content restrained PCL segment crystallization.
• All I-PUs demonstrated high radiopacity and prolonged degradation profiles.
• I-PUs and their degradation products exhibited non-toxic behavior in cytocompatibility tests.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized I-PUs offer a promising combination of biodegradability, radiopacity, and biocompatibility.
• IBPA incorporation effectively enhances X-ray visibility without compromising cytocompatibility.
• These radiopaque I-PUs hold significant potential for advanced biomedical applications compared to conventional polymers.