Cross-linking manipulation of waterborne biodegradable polyurethane for constructing mechanically adaptable tissue...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Mechanical cues are crucial for natural tissue regeneration.
• Developing mechanically adaptable biomaterials is essential for effective tissue engineering scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile strategy for tuning the modulus of waterborne biodegradable polyurethanes (WBPUs).
• To construct mechanically adaptable tissue engineering scaffolds for diverse cell applications and immune response regulation.

Main Methods:

• Modified polycaprolactone-based WBPUs with amorphous aliphatic polycarbonate and trimethylolpropane.
• Manipulated cross-linking density, phase separation, and water infiltration to control material modulus.
• Evaluated scaffold performance in a brain tissue regeneration model in vivo.

Main Results:

• Increased cross-linking density and decreased microphase separation led to a softer modulus and enhanced water infiltration in WBPUs.
• WBPU scaffolds demonstrated tunable mechanical properties adaptable to various cell types.
• In vivo studies showed scaffolds guided neural progenitor cell differentiation and regulated immune response with minimal inflammation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed strategy effectively tunes WBPU modulus for mechanically adaptable biomaterials.
• These adaptable scaffolds show significant potential for neural tissue regeneration and broader biomedical applications.
• This approach offers a valuable method for designing next-generation tissue engineering solutions.