Multiblock Polyurethanes Based on Biodegradable Amphiphilic Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Poly(ethylene glycol) Segments as Candidates for Tissue Engineering Applications

Abstract

Biodegradable amphiphilic multiblock poly(ether-ester-urethane)s were prepared by one-step bulk polycondensation of PEG and PCL macrodiols and HMDI with good yields and high molecular weights. The copolymers were characterized by 1H-NMR, FT-IR, SEC, TGA and DSC analysis. Different ratios of PEG/PCL, PEG macromonomer length and copolymer molecular weights allowed for tuning their hydrophilicity. Thanks to their tunable characteristics, the prepared multiblock copolymers can be exploited in the fabrication of biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering by means of the electrospinning technique.

Keywords

• polycondensation
• tissue engineering
• thermal properties
• block copolymers
• electrospinning