Star-hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane based on D-glucose-poly(ε-caprolactone) core as a biomaterial candidate

Abstract Herein, a novel three-dimensional (3D) waterborne poly (ester-urethane-urea) (WPEUU) networks containig D-glucose-poly(e-caprolactone) (GBPS) as a pentol star core were designed and synthesized. The structure and properties of the polymers were investigated by FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopy methods and FE-SEM, DSC and TGA techniques in detail. In addition, the degree of polymerization (DPn = 12), the number average molecular weight (Mn ~ 7000 g/mol) and funtionality (f = 5) of pentol star were controlled and determined by means of 1HNMR. Physico-chemical characterization revealed that WPEUU compared with GBPS, showed a decrease in the degree of crystallinity (from Xc ~ 42% to Xc ~ 20%) and water contact angle (77.3° to 36.4°), which presented higher hydrophilicity, degradability and compatibility in vitro (14% VS 6% mass loss) and in vivo (30% weight loss) after four weeks degradation. The in vivo and in vitro degradations phenomen and surface morphology changes were compared by using FESEM micrographs. The skinny fibrous capsules (~5–7 µm) were observed around the WPEUU films. These results and low cytotoxicity to the L929 cells, also can be deduced that the prepared biodegradable and biocompatible WPEUU can be employed as potential biomaterial for biomedical applications in the future.