Self-healable conductive polyurethane with the body temperature‐responsive shape memory for bone tissue engineering

Abstract

Today, researches have been extended to prepare multifunctional scaffolds capable of regulating cellular behaviors, including human Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) differentiation to bone tissues. In the present study, an aniline trimer (AT)-based self-healable conductive polyurethane scaffold (PU-AT scaffold) with body temperature‐responsive shape memory was synthesized for bone tissue engineering. The properties of the prepared scaffolds were evaluated using FTIR, electrical conductivity, water contact angle, tensile stress, and degradation analyses. The PU-AT scaffold showed excellent shape fixity and shape recovery ratios of >98% and >97%, respectively. Notably, PU-AT scaffolds also showed excellent intrinsic self-healing efficiency (near 95%) at a temperature close to body temperature (40 °C). From MTT, ALP activity, and ARS assays, the AT-based scaffolds exhibited outstanding hASC cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and bone mineralization. The hASC gene expression levels of RUNX2, COL1, OCN, and ALP were significantly enhanced after 21 days, consistent with increased extracellular matrix maturation and osteocalcin deposition.