Characterization of a resorbable poly(ester urethane) with biodegradable hard segments.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Growing demand for resorbable polymers in medicine necessitates materials with controlled degradation and safe by-products.
• Polyurethanes offer tunable properties, but aliphatic versions lack mechanical strength compared to aromatic ones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel biodegradable aromatic poly(ester urethane) (PEsU) for potential use in medical devices.
• To evaluate its mechanical properties, degradation profile, and cytocompatibility.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of PEsU using biodegradable aromatic isocyanates derived from glycolic acid.
• Characterization via infrared spectroscopy, uniaxial tensile testing, and differential scanning calorimetry.
• Accelerated degradation studies and cytocompatibility tests with 3T3 mouse fibroblasts.

Main Results:

• PEsU exhibited aromatic, phase-separated characteristics and semi-crystalline behavior.
• Demonstrated superior mechanical properties compared to aliphatic polyurethanes, attributed to aromatic hard domains.
• Underwent surface hydrolysis and mass loss in accelerated degradation, with reduced modulus post-incubation.
• Showed comparable initial cell viability to commercial materials, with sustained viability over 72 hours.

Conclusions:

• The novel resorbable PEsU possesses desirable mechanical and degradation properties.
• Its good cytocompatibility suggests suitability for various biomedical applications.
• This material represents a promising advancement in resorbable polymers for medical devices.