Abstract
Styrenic thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) consist of styrenic blocks. They are connected with other soft segments by a covalent linkage and are widely used in human life. However, in biomedical applications, TPEs need to be chemically hydrogenated in advance to enhance their properties such as strong UV/ozone resistance and thermal-oxidative stability. In this study, films composed of sulfonated hydrogenated TPEs were evaluated. Hydrogenated tert-butyl styrene–styrene–isoprene block copolymers were synthesized and selectively sulfonated to different degrees by reaction with acetyl sulfate. By controlling the ratio of the hydrogenated tert-butyl styrene–styrene–isoprene block copolymer and acetyl sulfate, sulfonated films were optimized to demonstrate sufficient mechanical integrity in water as well as good biocompatibility. The thermal plastic sulfonated films were found to be free of cytotoxicity and platelet-compatible and could be potential candidates in biomedical film applications such as wound dressings.
Highlights
Compared with natural rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have different attributes: allergen-free, low extractability, ease of sterilization, softness, and clarity for biomedical applications
Recent developments of a new hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) compound regarding water treatment could have led to a new SEPS approach in the biomedical field
The unreacted tert-butyl functional end group prohibits the resulting block copolymers from dissolving in water, and sufficient mechanical strength of swollen copolymer films is maintained [19]. This methodology has only been applied to the industrial water treatment field; to the best of our knowledge, no one has investigated the biocompatibility of sulfonated HSBCs
Summary
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have different attributes: allergen-free, low extractability, ease of sterilization, softness, and clarity for biomedical applications Among these TPEs, styrene–isoprene–styrene (SIS) triblock copolymers have lower hardness, which is suitable for medical tubing or food package film applications [1]. The unreacted tert-butyl functional end group prohibits the resulting block copolymers from dissolving in water, and sufficient mechanical strength of swollen copolymer films is maintained [19]. Until now, this methodology has only been applied to the industrial water treatment field; to the best of our knowledge, no one has investigated the biocompatibility of sulfonated HSBCs
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