SYNTHETIC STUDIES ON BLOOD COMPATIBLE BIOMATERIALS 13:A NOVEL SEGMENTED POLYURETHANE CONTAINING PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE STRUCTURE:SYNTHESIS,CHARACTERIZATION AND BLOOD COMPATIBILITY EVALUATION

A new phosphorylcholine, (6-hydroxy) hexyl-2-(trimethylammonio) ethyl phosphate (HTEP), was synthesized andcharasterized. Segmented polyurethane (SPU) containing phosphorylcholine structure was synthesized based ondiphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), soft segment polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) and HTEP, with 1,4-butanediol (BD)as a chain extender. The existence of phosphorylcholine structure on the surface of SPU was revealed by attenuated totalreflectance Fourier transform infrard spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contactangle measurements. The blood compatibilities of the polymers were evaluated by hemolytic testing and a platelet-richplasma (PRP) adhesion experiment, which was viewed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with polyurethane as areference. The novel segmented polyurethane containing phosphorylcholine structure showed improved blood compatibility.

MODULUS-COMPOSITION DEPENDENCE FOR BLENDS OF PVC WITH SEGMENTED POLYURETHANES OF DIFFERENT SOFT SEGMENTS

The dynamic mechanical modulus at 25℃ for blends of segmented polyurethanes with PVC was studied by using suitable mechanics models of multi-component systems. The analysis indicates that the blend morphology was mainly determined by soft segment structure of polyurethanes. The PPO-PU/PVC blends show typical two-phase morphology and their modulus-composition relations may be described by Halpin-Tsai model for domain-matrix two-phase systems.While the PCL-PU / PVC, PTMA-PU/PVC and PTMO-PU/PVC blends fit the Kerner's packed grain composite model. These results may imply that the modulus-composition relationship is sensitive to the interactions between the components and the mixture morphology of the blends.

TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF SEGMENTED POLYURETHANES WITH RUTHENIUM TETROXIDE AS A STAINING AGENT

Microphase separation and lamellar structure of segmented polyether- and polyester-polyurethanes have been investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy with the ruthenium tetroxide staining technique. The results show that the RuO_4 staining technique is simpler and may give better image contrast than other staining methods for this polymer. Microphase separation and lamellar structure of segmented polyether-and polyester-polyurethanes were directly observed and discussed.

GAS PERMEATION OF SEGMENTED POLYURETHANES AND THEIR BLENDS WITH PVC

Film specimens of four segmented polyurethanes with different soft segments, namely polycaprolactone, polytetramethylene adipate, polytetramethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, and their blends with PVC of different compositions were obtained by solution cast. The permeability of these films to O_2, N_2 and H_2 and their density were measured by using gas chromatography and technique of density gradient column. The polyether polyurethanes were found to have higher permeability than the polyester ones due to their low glass transition temperature and /or the low density value. The blends of PVC and polyether polyurethanes, especially the PPO-based polyurethane, are incompatible, and their permeability coefficient-composition dependence has the typical S-shaped curves. PVC is well compatible with the soft segments in its blends with polyester polyurethanes. For these blends the composition dependence of permeability is characterized by a negative deviation from the semilogarithmic additivity rule, and it is possible to prepare blends having T_g 20℃ lower than that of PVC, but retaining its low permeability almost unchanged, results were discussed in according with the different approaches for the permeation behavior of compatible and incompatible blends.

GRAFTING OF HYDROPHILIC MONOMERS ONTO POLYURETHANE MEMBRANES BY SOLUTION OR PRE-ABSORBING METHODS FOR ACCELERATION OF CELL COMPATIBILITY

Two grafting methods, i.e. solution grafting and pre-adsorbing, are introduced to covalently immobilizehydrophilic polymers on segmented polyurethane (SPU) to modify its hydrophilicity and to improve its cell compatibility.Solution grafting results in higher degree of grafting and rougher surface morphology. Cell culture evaluation demonstratesthat the modified membranes thus obtained are disadvantageous to the endothelial cell (ECs) growth probably because thehydrophilic groups on the surface are over-crowded. However, pre-absorbing grafting generates lower degree of grafting,which is detected and confirmed by ATR-FTIR spectra and water conted angle. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM)measurement shows that the latter method produces a plane and smooth morphology, which is similar to the SPU controlsample controlled. When grafting with lower monomer concentration, ECs could grow on SPU-g-PHEA [poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate)], SPU-g-PAAm (polyacrylamide), SPU-g-PDMA [poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)] orquatemized SPU-g-PDMA surface with elongated cell shapes. Hence, the cell compatibility of SPU is improved and a usefulmethod to construct a cell compatible layer on the polymer surface has been developed.

STUDIES ON THE SPHERULITE FORMATION IN MELT CAST POLYCAPROLACTONE BASED POLYURETHANES

A series of PCL/MDI/BDO segmented polyurethanes have been synthesized by two-step method in solution.The hard segment content ranges from 10% to 48% by weight, and the molecular weight of PCL diols is 1500. Hard segment spherulites have been observed in compression molded specimens of all of the samples except the one of the lowest hard segment content. The difficulty in sphernlite formation was explained as only in a small temperature range,the microphase separation rate may be faster than the crystallization rate and all these processes are very slow due to the hydrogen bonding between hard and soft segments and the interactions between hard segments themselves. PCL soft segments of molecular weight 1500 is still crystallizable and may form different crystalline superstructures.

THERMALLY STIMULATED SHAPE MEMORY BEHAVIOR OF POLYMERS WITH PHYSICAL CROSSLINKS

The shape memory effect of polymers was investigated for the purpose of improving the processing conditions of their preparation and broadening the list of polymers for shape memory applications. Emphasis was put on the possibility of using polymers with physical crosslinks as shape memory materials and their structure-function relationships. Segmented block polyurethanes and polyethylene/nylon 6 graft copolymers were used as examples of polymers with physical crosslinks. It was found that these copolymers can really be used as thermally stimulated shape memory materials with large recoverable strain and high final recovery rate. The main advantage of using copolymers is their improved processing conditions as compared with polymers with chemical crosslinks. As only physical crosslinks are introduced, all conventional processing techniques for thermal plastics can be used, and the materials become easily reusable. The results indicate that the high crystallinity of these copolymers at room temperature and the formation of stable physical crosslinks are the two prerequisites for these polymers to exhibit shape memory effect. The successful use of block and graft copolymers imply the possibility of using polymers of various structure and properties as shape memory materials.