Abstract
Biodegradable amphiphilic multiblock poly(ether-ester-urethane)s were prepared by one-step bulk polycondensation of PEG and PCL macrodiols and HMDI with good yields and high molecular weights. The copolymers were characterized by 1 H-NMR, FT-IR, SEC, TGA and DSC analysis. Different ratios of PEG/PCL, PEG macromonomer length and copolymer molecular weights allowed for tuning their hydrophilicity. Thanks to their tunable characteristics, the prepared multiblock copolymers can be exploited in the fabrication of biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering by means of the electrospinning technique.
Highlights
IntroductionBiodegradable poly(ether-ester-urethane)s (PEEUs) have drawn attention in the biomedical field, where they have been used as bioabsorbable sutures [1, 2], drug delivery systems [3, 4], biodegradable vascular grafts [5] and, in general, in the fabrication of scaffolds for Tissue Engineering (TE) [6,7,8]
Biodegradable poly(ether-ester-urethane)s (PEEUs) have drawn attention in the biomedical field, where they have been used as bioabsorbable sutures [1, 2], drug delivery systems [3, 4], biodegradable vascular grafts [5] and, in general, in the fabrication of scaffolds for Tissue Engineering (TE) [6,7,8].suitable mechanical properties and biodegradation rates of scaffolds for TE applications can be tuned by tailoring the chemical composition and the macromolecular architecture
Synthesis and Characterization of PEGCL copolymers The biodegradable segmented PEEUs were synthesised by one-step random condensation polymerization, as shown in Scheme 1
Summary
Biodegradable poly(ether-ester-urethane)s (PEEUs) have drawn attention in the biomedical field, where they have been used as bioabsorbable sutures [1, 2], drug delivery systems [3, 4], biodegradable vascular grafts [5] and, in general, in the fabrication of scaffolds for Tissue Engineering (TE) [6,7,8]. The presence of hard and soft segments, their different ratios, as well as the polymer molecular weight, affect the final properties of PEEUs, making them suitable for various applications. Low molecular weight PEG is a biocompatible hydrophilic and highly flexible polymer, not biodegradable but able to be eliminated from the body by the renal system (bioeliminable) [10] It is often used in copolymers with PCL to increase the hydrophilicity and decrease the crystallinity of the polyester segment and to tune the mechanical properties and the biodegradation rates [11]. Polymeric materials based on PEEUs have often exhibited excellent elastomeric properties These properties have been exploited to prepare nanofibrous three-dimensional scaffolds for vascular grafts applications, by an electrospinning process. A preliminary study on the suitability of these copolymers to be processed into nanofibers by electrospinning technology is reported
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
