Synthesis of biodegradable PU/PEGDA IPNs having micro-separated morphology for enhanced blood compatibility

Abstract

New biodegradable hydrophobic polyurethane (PU)/hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) IPN was simultaneously synthesized with changing the molecular weight of PEGDA to investigate the effect of crosslinking density on the degree of phase separation. PU was modified using biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)diol and the hydroxy group of PEG was substituted to crosslinkable acrylate group having double bond, which induce photo-polymerization. The sturucture of PEGDA was confirmed by NMR. Because the reaction rate of PEGDA was faster than that of PU, the continuous matrix of the micro-separated PU/PEGDA IPNs having amphiphilic character was made of hydrophilic PEGDA-rich phase. All IPNs have sea-island morphology resulting from the suppressed phase separation. The effect of the degree of phase separation on blood compatibility was investigated.