Biodegradable non-aromatic adhesive polyurethanes based on disaccharides for medical applications

This work addresses synthesis, characterization, adhesive properties, protein adsorption and in vitro biodegradation of non-aromatic polyurethanes (NPUs). The following reactants were used in the syntheses of polyurethanes (PUs): non-aromatic 4,4'-Methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (MCI), disaccharides (maltose and sucrose) and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200). The NPUs exhibited low glass transition temperature (Tg) and good thermal stability. The dynamic contact angles on NPUs were influenced by the ratios of PEG 200-disaccharide monomer and the hard segment of the NPUs. The highest adhesion strength in whole polyurethanes was found as 307.6±50.1 kPa for 15% sucrose containing polyurethane. Protein adsorptions of polyurethane films were measured as average 10 μg Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)/cm2 and 5 μg fibrinogen/cm2 for maltose, and 15 μg BSA/cm2 and 5 μg fibrinogen/cm2 for sucrose. Biodegradability ratios of NPUs were in the range of 15-35% for 8 weeks depending on the disaccharides containing NPUs. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.