Publication details

Authors: Fang, J.; Ye, S. H.; Wang, J.; Zhao, T.; Mo, X.; Wagner, W. R. 
Title: Thiol click modification of cyclic disulfide containing biodegradable polyurethane urea elastomers 
Type: Journal Article 
Publisher: Biomacromolecules 
Year: 2015 
Volume: 16 
Issue: 
Start Page: 1622 
End Page: 1633 
DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b00192 
WEB-link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25891476 
Abstract: Although the thiol click reaction is an attractive tool for postpolymerization modification of thiolmers, thiol groups are easily oxidized, limiting the potential for covalent immobilization of bioactive molecules. In this study, a series of biodegradable polyurethane elastomers incorporating stable cyclic disulfide groups was developed and characterized. These poly(ester urethane)urea (PEUU-SS) polymers were based on polycaprolactone diol (PCL), oxidized dl-dithiothreitol (O-DTT), lysine diisocyanate (LDI), or butyl diisocyanate (BDI), with chain extension by putrescine. The ratio of O-DTT:PCL was altered to investigate different levels of potential functionalization. PEG acrylate was employed to study the mechanism and availability of both bulk and surface click modification of PEUU-SS polymers. All synthesized PEUU-SS polymers were elastic with breaking strengths of 38-45 MPa, while the PEUU-SS(LDI) polymers were more amorphous, possessing lower moduli and relatively small permanent deformations versus PEUU-SS(BDI) polymers. Variable bulk click modification of PEUU-SS(LDI) polymers was achieved by controlling the amount of reduction reagent, and rapid reaction rates occurred using a one-pot, two-step process. Likewise, surface click reaction could be carried out quickly under mild, aqueous conditions. Furthermore, a maleimide-modified affinity peptide (TPS) was successfully clicked on the surface of an electrospun PEUU-SS(BDI) fibrous sheet, which improved endothelial progenitor cell adhesion versus corresponding unmodified films. The cyclic disulfide containing biodegradable polyurethanes described provide an option for cardiovascular and other soft tissue regenerative medicine applications where a temporary, elastic scaffold with designed biofunctionality from a relatively simple click chemistry approach is desired. 
Keywords: Biodegradable Plastics/*chemistry, Disulfides/chemistry, Elastomers/chemistry, Polyurethanes/*chemistry, Sulfhydryl Compounds/*chemistry, Urea/chemistry