Synthesis and characterization of shape memory polyurethane for biomedical applications

Incorporation of shape memory polymers into biomedical devices is an attractive option due to their notable advantages of low cost, biocompatibility, tunable degradability, patient-specific design, and adjustable mechanical and thermal properties. Shape memory polyurethanes are particularly attractive due to their extensive temperature range for shape recovery as well as the ability to fine-tune the glass transition temperature. This study aimed to synthesize an SMPU using glycerol as a chain extender with a glass transition temperature within a suitable temperature range for biomedical applications. The results showed that the triggering temperatures for the synthesized samples changed between 63.95 °C and 88.21 °C. Shape memory properties were investigated for the temperature range of 40 °C and 75 °C. Shape recovery times were found to be substantially shorter with increasing temperature, with 102 seconds at 40 °C and ~1 second at 75 °C. Shape fixity and shape recovery rates for the same temperature ranges were 77.8 % & 85.6 % at 40 °C and 100 % & 100 % at 75 °C. Cytotoxicity assay results indicated promising biocompatibility of the synthesized material for biomedical purposes. Overall, the synthesized polymers were found to be a potential candidate for biomedical applications such as stents, aneurysm filling, or occlusion devices.