Physicochemical characterization and in vivo blood tolerability of cast and extruded Biomer

Solution grade and extruded grade Biomer (SB and EB, respectively) are polyurethanes that have been suggested for use in biomedical applications. The bulk materials were examined by elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical testing, and stress-strain testing. The extruded grade material has a lower soft segment molecular weight (650 g/mol) than the solution grade material (2000 g/mol). As a result of its higher molecular weight, the soft segment phase of SB is semicrystalline in the solid state. The hard segments of the extruded grade material are chain extended with water yielding a lower urea concentration than in the solution grade material in which the hard segments are chain extended with diamines. Chemical structures for the two materials consistent with elemental analysis, urea/urethane ratios and thermal and mechanical data, are proposed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA) was used to analyze the surfaces of extruded grade Biomer, solution grade Biomer cast on the inner surface of polyethylene tubing, and extruded grade Biomer dissolved in DMA and similarly cast on polyethylene (CB). Soft segment concentrations were highest on the EB surface and lowest on the SB surface. Soft segment concentrations on the EB surface were higher than on the CB surface, indicating that the method of fabrication affected the composition of the surface layer. The three materials were tested for blood tolerance in a canine femoral arteriovenous shunt configuration. Blood compatibility was correlated with increasing concentration of polyether soft segments on the surface.