Synthesis, characterizations, and biocompatibility of block poly(ester-urethane)s based on biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P3/4HB) and poly(ε-caprolactone).

A type of block poly(ester-urethane)s (abbreviated as PUBC) based on bacterial copolyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P3/4HB) and biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was synthesized by melting polymerization using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the coupling agent, with different 3HB, 4HB and PCL contents and segment lengths. Stannous octanoate (Sn(Oct)(2)) was used as catalyst. The chemical structure, molecular weight and thermal property were characterized by (1)H NMR, FTIR GPC, DSC and TGA. DSC analysis revealed that the PUBC polyurethanes exhibit amorphous to semi-crystalline (20.9% crystallinity degree) with T(g) range from -39.7 to -21.5 °C. The hydrophilicity was investigated by static contact angle of deionized water and CH(2)I(2). The obtained PUBCs are hydrophobic (water contact angle 73.7-90.2°). Platelet adhesion study and plasma recalcification time revealed that the block polyurethanes possess hemastasis ability. CCK-8 assay illuminated that the no cytotoxic polyurethanes maintain rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RaSMCs) good viability. It was found that the 4HB content in the materials is an important factor to affect the sustainable cell viability.

Synthesis, characterizations and biocompatibility of alternating block polyurethanes based on P3/4HB and PPG-PEG-PPG.

Block copolymers with exactly controlled structures, that is, alternating block polyurethanes based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutrate) (P3/4HB-diol) and poly (propylene glycol)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(propylene glycol) (PPG-PEG-PPG) were synthesized by solution polymerization via specifically selective coupling reaction between terminal hydroxyl P3/4HB segment and isocyanate group end-capped PPG-PEG-PPG segment, using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as end-capped agent. The chemical structure, molecular weight and distribution were systematically characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (¹H NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal property was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis. The hydrophilicity was studied by static contact angle of H2O and CH2I2. DSC revealed that the PU3/4HB-alt-PPG-PEG-PPG exhibited a distinct change from amorphous to 30% crystallinity degree, T(g) from -25 to -50 °C, T(m) from 110 to 145 °C. The polyurethanes were more hydrophilic (water contact angle centers around 80 °) than the raw PHA materials. The platelet adhesion assay showed that the obtained polyurethanes had a lower platelet adhesion than the raw materials and the amount of platelet adhesion could be controlled by varying the segmental length of P3/4HB-diol. This could be explained by the inclusion of PPG-PEG-PPG between the P3/4HB segments, improving the hemocompatibility of P3/4HB. The cell culture assay revealed that the obtained polyurethanes were cell inert and unfavorable for the attachment of mouse fibroblast cell line L929 and rabbit blood vessel smooth muscle cells (RaSMCs). This suggests that these polyurethanes would be promising candidates as hemocompatibility and tissue-inert materials.

Biodegradable block poly(ester-urethane)s based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymers.

A series of block poly(ester-urethane)s (abbreviated as PU3/4HB) based on biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P3/4HB) segments were synthesized by a facile way of melting polymerization using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the coupling agent and stannous octanoate (Sn(Oct)(2)) as catalyst, with different 4HB contents and segment lengths. The chemical structure, molecular weight and distribution were systematically characterized by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal property was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The hydrophilicity was investigated by static contact angle of deionized water and CH(2)I(2). DSC curves revealed that the PU3/4HB polyurethanes have their T(g) from -25.6 °C to -4.3 °C, and crystallinity from 2.5% to 25.3%, being almost amorphous to semi-crystalline. The obtained PU3/4HBs are hydrophobic (water contact angle 77.4°-95.9°), and their surface free energy (SFE) were studied. The morphology of platelets adhered on the polyurethane film observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that platelets were activated on the PU3/4HB films which would lead to blood coagulation. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay revealed that the PU3/4HBs displayed higher platelet adhesion property than raw materials and biodegradable polymer polylactic acid (PLA) and would be potential hemostatic materials. Crystallinity degree, hydrophobicity, surface free energy and urethane linkage content play important roles in affecting the LDH activity and hence the platelet adhesion. CCK-8 assay showed that the PU3/4HB is non-toxic and well for cell growth and proliferation of mouse fibroblast L929. It showed that the hydrophobicity is an important factor for cell growth while 3HB content of the PU3/4HB is important for the cell proliferation. Through changing the composition and the chain-length of P3/4HB-diol prepolymers, the biocompatibility of the poly(ester-urethane)s can be tailored.