Characterization of polyurethane scaffold surface functionalization with diamines and heparin

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A Vol. 101A; no. 4; pp. 919 - 922
• Main Authors: de Mulder, Eric L. W., Hannink, Gerjon, Koens, Martin J. W., Löwik, Dennis W. P. M., Verdonschot, Nico, Buma, Pieter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.04.2013; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Amines; Biological and medical sciences; biomaterials; Biotechnology; Contact angle; Crosslinking; Diamines - chemistry; Elastic Modulus; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health. Pharmaceutical industry; Heparin; Heparins; Hot Temperature; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; polyurethane; Polyurethane resins; Polyurethanes - chemistry; Scaffolds; Stiffness; surface treatment; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Three dimensional; tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; Tissue engineering; Scaffold; Surface treatment; Polyelectrolyte; Diamine; Functionalization; Polyurethane; Surface properties; Oside polymer; Biomaterial; Heparin; biomaterials; Biomedical engineering
• ISSN: 1549-3296; 1552-4965
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.34389

Polyurethane scaffolds (PUs) have a good biocompatibility but lack cell recognition sites. In this study, we functionalized the surface of a PU, P(D/L)LA and PCL (50:50) containing urethane segments, with heparin. The first step in this functionalization, aminolysis, lead to free amine groups on the surface of the PU. Free amine content was determined to be 6.4 nmol/mL/mg scaffold, a significant increase of 230%. Subsequently, heparin was crosslinked. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of heparin homogeneous throughout the 3D porous scaffold. Young's modulus decreased significantly till 50% of the native stiffness after aminolysis and did not change after heparin crosslinking. Contact angle on PU films significantly decreased from 82.7° to 64.3° after heparin crosslinking, indicating a more hydrophilic surface. This functionalization beholds great potential for tissue engineering purposes. When used in a load‐bearing environment, caution is necessary due to reduction in mechanical stiffness. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.