POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL-CONTAINING POLYURETHANES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

The synthesis and characterization of some new polyethylene glycol (PE G)-containing polyurethane elastomers are described. These materials w ere evaluated with respect to their potential use as biomaterials, mor e specifically for their use as blood- or urine-contacting materials. The stability of the materials towards heat, hydrolysis and gamma-irra diation was examined. Before biological testing, material purity was i nvestigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed smooth, continuous films with a stability t owards imaging depending on the chain extender used. Surface plasmon r esonance (SPR) experiments indicated a strongly reduced adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) on these PEG-containing polymers. Atomic abs orption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to quantify in vitro calcium depos ition after incubation in urine. Bacterial adhesion was strongly reduc ed and cytocompatibility experiments using fibroblast cultures showed the importance of catalyst residues in the materials. (C) 1998 SCI.