| AVS 54th International Symposium | |
| Biomaterial Interfaces | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session BI-TuP |
| Session: | Biomaterials Interfaces Poster Session |
| Presenter: | A. Karchin, University of Washington |
| Authors: | A. Karchin, University of Washington J.E. Sanders, University of Washington |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Towards the goal of developing electrospun polyurethane (PU) scaffolds for tissue engineering applications, the cytotoxicity of basic aliphatic PUs based on (CH2)4-content diisocyanates, polycaprolactone and 1,4-butane diamine or 1,4-butanediol were tested. These biodegradable polymers were chosen due to their general biocompatibility, excellent mechanical properties, and designed so that in vivo degradation products can be cleared through normal metabolic pathway. Electrospinning from melt, compared to from solution, is an attractive manufacturing process as it allows for the formation of small diameter fibers while eliminating the use of solvents which can be cytotoxic. A two-tiered experimental design was employed to determine the suitability of the specific PUs for use as tissue engineering scaffolds from a biocompatibility perspective. First, the effect of atmosphere, temperature and time at elevated temperature on the polymer cytotoxicity was assessed. Second, an investigation into the relationship between melt electrospinning and cytotoxicity was explored by performing cytotoxicity tests on electrospun meshes. These experiments are useful as a guide for subsequent development of the novel electrospun biohybrid enzymatically biodegradable PUs into a tissue engineering scaffolds.