Concepedia

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of some new polyethylene glycol (PEG)-containing polyurethane elastomers are described. These materials were evaluated with respect to their potential use as biomaterials, more specifically for their use as blood- or urine-contacting materials. The stability of the materials towards heat, hydrolysis and γ-irradiation was examined. Before biological testing, material purity was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed smooth, continuous films with a stability towards imaging depending on the chain extender used. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments indicated a strongly reduced adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) on these PEG-containing polymers. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to quantify in vitro calcium deposition after incubation in urine. Bacterial adhesion was strongly reduced and cytocompatibility experiments using fibroblast cultures showed the importance of catalyst residues in the materials. © 1998 SCI.