Tailored biocompatible polyurethane-poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels as a versatile nonfouling biomaterial
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Polyurethane-based hydrogels are relatively inexpensive and mechanically robust biomaterials with ideal properties for various applications, including drug delivery, prosthetics, implant coatings, soft robotics, and tissue engineering. In this report, a simple method is presented for synthesizing and casting biocompatible polyurethane-poly(ethylene glycol) (PU-PEG) hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties, nonfouling characteristics, and sustained tolerability as an implantable material or coating. The hydrogels are synthesized via a simple one-pot method using commercially available precursors and low toxicity solvents and reagents, yielding a consistent and biocompatible gel platform primed for long-term biomaterial applications. The mechanical and physical properties of the gels are easily controlled by varying the curing concentration, producing networks with complex shear moduli of 0.82–190 kPa, similar to a range of human soft tissues. When evaluated against a mechanically matched poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) formulation, the PU-PEG hydrogels demonstrated favorable nonfouling characteristics, including comparable adsorption of plasma proteins (albumin and fibrinogen) and significantly reduced cellular adhesion. Moreover, preliminary murine implant studies reveal a mild foreign body response after 41 days. Due to the tunable mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and sustained in vivo tolerability of these hydrogels, it is proposed that this method offers a simplified platform for fabricating soft PU-based biomaterials for a variety of applications.
Date Issued
2022-11-02
Date Acceptance
2022-08-09
Citation
Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2022, 11 (21), pp.1-13
ISSN
2192-2640
Publisher
Wiley-VCH Verlag
Start Page
1
End Page
13
Journal / Book Title
Advanced Healthcare Materials
Volume
11
Issue
21
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Advanced Healthcare Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.202201378
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Engineering, Biomedical
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Engineering
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
biomaterials
hydrogels
nonfouling
polyethylene glycol (PEG)
polyurethane
PROTEIN ADSORPTION
PORE-SIZE
POLYURETHANE HYDROGELS
PLATELET-ADHESION
SERUM-ALBUMIN
FIBRINOGEN
SURFACES
NANOPARTICLES
COPOLYMERS
COATINGS
biomaterials
hydrogels
nonfouling
polyethylene glycol (PEG)
polyurethane
Humans
Mice
Animals
Biocompatible Materials
Polyurethanes
Hydrogels
Tissue Engineering
Polyethylene Glycols
0304 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry
0903 Biomedical Engineering
1004 Medical Biotechnology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-08-18