Block poly(ester-urethane)s based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3-hydroxyhexanoate-co-3-hydroxyoctanoate)

A series of block poly(ester-urethane) poly(3/4HB-HHxHO) urethanes (abbreviated as PUHO) based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P3/4HB-diol) and poly(3-hydroxyhexanoate-co-3-hydroxyoctanoate) (PHHxHO-diol) segments were synthesized by a facile way of melting polymerization using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as the coupling agent, with different 3HB, 4HB, HHxHO compositions and segment lengths. The chemical structure, molecular weight and distribution were systematically characterized by 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (NMR), two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (COSY (1H, 13C) NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal property was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The hydrophilicity was investigated by static contact angle of water and CH2I2. DSC revealed that the poly(3/4HB-HHxHO) urethanes are almost amorphous with a little crystallinity (less than 6%) and Tg from −23 °C to −3 °C. The polyurethanes are more hydrophobic (water contact angle 88°–117°) than the P3/4HB and PHHxHO raw materials. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and platelet adhesion determination showed that the obtained polyurethanes have much higher platelet adhesion property than raw materials and common biodegradable polymers polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). Hydrophobicity and crystallinity degree are important factors to affect the platelet adhesion. All the properties can be tailored by changing the composition and segment length of prepolymers P3/4HB-diol and PHHxHO-diol.