Design and in vitro evaluation of electrospun shape memory polyurethanes for self-fitting tissue engineering grafts and drug delivery systems

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C 2020-05, Vol.110, p.110675, Article 110675
• Main Authors: Bil, Monika, Kijeńska-Gawrońska, Ewa, Głodkowska-Mrówka, Eliza, Manda-Handzlik, Aneta, Mrówka, Piotr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Calorimetry; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Cardiovascular system; Cell Survival; Cognitive ability; Crystallization; Differential scanning calorimetry; Diols; Drug delivery; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Liberation; Electrospinning; Fibroblasts; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fourier transforms; Humans; Infrared spectroscopy; Kinetics; Lactates; Materials science; Molecular Weight; Polycaprolactone; Polyesters; Polyethylene glycol; Polyethylene Glycols; Polylactic acid; Polylactide-co-glycolide; Polyols; Polyurethane; Polyurethane resins; Polyurethanes; Polyurethanes - chemistry; Rapamycin; Regeneration; Segments; Shape memory; Smart Materials - chemistry; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Structural analysis; Systems integration; Temperature; Tensile Strength; Tissue Engineering; Transition temperature; Transition temperatures
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.110675

Integration of multiple features including shape memory, biodegradation, and sustained drug delivery in a single material offers the opportunity to significantly improve the abilities of implantable devices for cardiovascular system regeneration. Two types of shape memory polyurethanes (SMPUs): PU-PLGA and PU-PLLA/PEG differing in soft segments composition that comprising blends of various biodegradable polyols, i.e. D,l-lactide-co-glycolide diol (o-PLGA), poly(e-caprolactone) diols (o-PCL) with various molecular weights, poly-l-lactide diol (o-PLLA), polyethylene glycol (o-PEG) were synthesized and further utilized to electrospun nanofibrous – rapamycin (Rap) delivery system. Structure characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DCS) and hydrophilicity measurements were performed to gain more insights on the influence of the particular units of the softs segments on the transition temperature (Ttrans), shape recovery, degradation profile, and drug release kinetics. In vitro study in PBS solution revealed that incorporation of o-PLGA segments to SMPUs is favorable over o-PEG as increased shape memory performance was observed. Moreover, presence of PLGA in PU-PLGA gave more predictable degradation profile in comparison to PU-PLLA/PEG system. Human Cardiac Fibroblasts (HCF) viability tests in vitro confirmed that the amount of Rap released from evaluated PU-PLLA/PEG/Rap and PU-PLGA/Rap drug delivery systems was sufficient to inhibit cells growth on the surface of the tested materials. [Display omitted] •A series of SMPUs with Ttrans close to body temperature based on randomly blended biodegradable polyols were synthesized.•The impact of the specific units of the soft segments on functional properties of SMPUs was analyzed.•Electrospun fibrous SMPUs is a feasible controlled releasing system for rapamycin (Rap).•In vitro tests with human cardiac fibroblast (HCF) confirmed the efficacy of Rap delivery and biocompatibility of SMPUs.