EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF SHORT CHAIN POLYMERS ON THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURE, MECHANICAL, THERMAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYURETHANES SYNTHESIZED WITH ALIPHATIC DIISOCYANATES AND CASTOR OIL

The objective of this research was to synthesize biocompatible polyurethanes, with suitable mechanical properties to be used as biomaterials. Polyurethanes were synthesized with polyols derived from castor oil and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate and 4,4’-methylenebis (cyclohexyl isocyanate), with the addition of polycaprolactone/chitosan (PCL/Ch). The materials were evaluated for their mechanical properties by determining the stress-strain curves, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry analysis and contact angle. The biological response of the materials was evaluated by measuring in vitro cell viability on the L-929 mouse fibroblast cell line. The mechanical properties of polyurethanes vary according to the type of polyol and diisocyanate used. The best results were obtained with transesterification-modified polyols with cycloaliphatic diisocyanates. The best results were found for polyurethane synthesized with IPDI and the modified polyol (P.3): 17 MPa of maximum stress at break, 0.937 MPa of Young’s modulus, elongation greater than 250%. Polyurethanes do not have toxic effects and cell viability values exceed 70% on the L-929 fibroblast line. The addition of PCL/Ch improves the cell viability of polyurethanes. The results indicate that the polyurethanes synthesized with polyols derived from castor oil can be used in the design of biomaterials due to the mechanical and biological properties obtained.

Keywords:
polyurethanes; aliphatic diisocyanates; polycaprolactone; chitosan; biomaterials