l-ascorbic acid modified poly(ester urethane)s as a suitable candidates for soft tissue engineering applications

In this paper we created novel poly(ester urethane)s (PESUs) designed specifically for tissue engineering. The PESUs were derived from oligomeric α,ω-dihydroxy(ethylene-butylene adipate) (dHEBA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and aliphatic 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and modified with l-ascorbic acid to improve their biocompatibility. In addition, we determined their mechanical properties (such as tensile strength, elongation at break and hardness). To determine how these materials may potentially behave after implementation in tissue, we estimated the degradation behavior of obtained PESUs in various chemical environments, which were exemplified by canola oil, saline solution, distilled water and phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Finally, the PESU biocompatibility and hemocompatibility tests were carried out. Biocompatibility was determined with a MTT assay and it was performed with 3T3 cell line. The results showed satisfactory mechanical properties, good hemocompatibility and improved biocompatibility, which let us to conclude that PESUs modified with ascorbic acid might find an application in biomedical field of soft tissues engineering.