Low protein adsorption and high cellular activity of PEG-based silicone polyurethane for artificial heart valves

Abstract

Polyurethane have the advantages of convenient structural design, low production cost, and excellent mechanical compatibility, and is expected to be used as a polymer heart valve material. However, its development in biomaterials is limited because it is prone to hydrolysis and coagulation after long-term implantation in organisms. In this study, "PEG-MDI-PEG" macromolecular diol was prepared by structural design of the soft segment of polyurethane. Copolymerization with telechelic α,ω-bis(6-hydroxyethoxypropyl)-PDMS as mixed soft segment, prepolymer solution was prepared by solution polymerization, and the biocompatibility of silicone-based polyurethane obtained by casting was characterized. By adjusting the feed ratio to control the silicon content in the copolymer, when the silicon content was 60 %, the protein adsorption capacity was 75 % lower than that of unmodified polyurethane, and the cell activity was more than 80 %, which was a useful characteristic for silicon-based polyurethane as a potential polymer valve material.