Influence of hard segments on the thermal, phase-separated morphology, mechanical, and biological properties of polycarbonate urethanes

Abstract

In this study, we have fabricated a series of polycarbonate polyurethanes using a two-step bulk reaction by the melting pre-polymer solution-casting method in order to synthesize biomedical polyurethane elastomers with good mechanical behavior and biostability. The polyurethanes were prepared using dibutyltin dilaurate as the catalyst, poly(1,6-hexanediol)carbonate microdiols (PCDL) as the soft segment, and the chain extender 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and aliphatic 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the hard segments. The chemical structures and physical properties of the obtained films were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and mechanical property tests. The surface properties and degrees of microphase separation were further analyzed by water droplet contact angle measurements (CA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The materials exhibited a moderate toxic effect on the tetrazolium (MTT) assay and good hemocompatibility through hemolytic tests, indicating a good biocompatibility of the fabricated membranes. The materials could be considered as potential and beneficial suitable materials for tissue engineering, especially in the fields of artificial blood-contacting implants or other biomedical applications.