Publication details

Authors: Fang, Jun; Ye, Sang-Ho; Shankarraman, Venkat; Huang, Yixian; Mo, Xiumei; Wagner, William R. 
Title: Biodegradable poly(ester urethane)urea elastomers with variable amino content for subsequent functionalization with phosphorylcholine 
Type: Journal Article 
Publisher: Acta Biomaterialia 
Year: 2014 
Volume: 10 
Issue: 11 
Start Page: 4639 
End Page: 4649 
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2014.08.008 
WEB-link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1742706114003444 
Abstract: While surface modification is well suited for imparting biomaterials with specific functionality for favorable cell interactions, the modification of degradable polymers would be expected to provide only temporary benefit. Bulk modification by incorporating pendant reactive groups for subsequent functionalization of biodegradable polymers would provide a more enduring approach. Towards this end, a series of biodegradable poly(ester urethane)urea elastomers with variable amino content (PEUUNH2 polymers) were developed. Carboxylated phosphorycholine was synthesized and conjugated to the PEUUNH2 polymers for subsequent bulk functionalization to generate PEUUPC polymers. Synthesis was verified by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The impact of amine incorporation and phosphorylcholine conjugation was shown on mechanical, thermal and degradation properties. Water absorption increased with increasing amine content, and further with PC conjugation. In wet conditions, tensile strength and initial modulus generally decreased with increasing hydrophilicity, but remained in the range of 530 MPa and 1020 MPa, respectively. PC conjugation was associated with significantly reduced platelet adhesion in blood contact testing and the inhibition of rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. These biodegradable PEUUPC elastomers offer attractive properties for applications as non-thrombogenic, biodegradable coatings and for blood-contacting scaffold applications. Further, the PEUUNH2 base polymers offer the potential to have multiple types of biofunctional groups conjugated onto the backbone to address a variety of design objectives. 
Keywords: Biodegradable polyurethane, Bulk modification, Zwitterion, Cardiovascular biomaterial