SULFONATED POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE)-GRAFTED POLYURETHANE COPOLYMER FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Sulfonated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-SO3)-grafted polyurethane (PU) co polymer (PU-PEO-SO3) was developed for utilization as a material for b iomedical applications. Its bulk properties and biocompatibility were investigated and the results were compared to those of PU and PU-PEO ( not sulfonated). PU-PEO-SO3 copolymer showed higher water uptake than PU and PU-PEO, indicative of increased hydrophilicity due to the graft ing of PEO-SO3. Compared with PU, PU-PEO-SO3 displayed lower glass tra nsition temperature (T-g) and melting endotherm from DSC analysis, sug gesting the increase of microphase separation and the suppression of h ard-segment packing. PU-PEO-SO3 had practically similar mechanical pro perties to PU, indicating that the chemical modification of PU was acc omplished without reducing its bulk properties. From the results of bi ocompatibility tests, PU-PEO-SO3 copolymer showed significantly lower adhesion of platelets and S. epidermidis than PU control and PU-PEO. I n addition, the platelet factor 4 (PF4) released from platelets was th e lowest in PU-PEO-SO3 among the test materials. PU-PEO-SO3 copolymer, which has excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility, is ex pected to be useful as coating, molding, and blending materials for ar tificial organs and medical devices.