The novel semi-biodegradable interpenetrating polymer networks based on urethane-dimethacrylate and epoxy-polyester components as alternative biomaterials

Purpose: This paper presents the pilot study aimed at the development of new full interpenetrating polymer networks based on urethane-dimethacrylate and biodegradable epoxy-polyester as the proposition of new biomaterials with gradually emerging porosity. Methods: The urethane-dimethacrylate monomer was obtained from 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) and tetraethylene glycol monomethacrylate. The redox-initiating system was employed for its radical polymerization. The epoxy-polyester was produced by oxidation of the polyester, synthesized from succinic anhydride and allyl glicydyl ether. It was cured in a step-growth process with biogenic, aliphatic amine - spermidine. The mixtures of both monomers with adequate curing agents were room temperature polymerized. The hardened materials were characterized for damping behavior and dynamic modulus, hardness, water sorption, the course of hydrolytic degradation as well as the morphology - before and during the degradation process. Results: The cured materials revealed the nonporous, dense morphology. In the hydrolytic environment, the epoxy-polyester network degraded and the porous urethane-dimethacrylate scaffold remained. The epoxy-polyester appeared to prevent the urethane-dimethacrylate from attaining a high degree of conversion, even if the polymerization rate and the molecular mobility of the latter one are higher than those of the epoxy-polyester. The most homogeneous material with the best physico-mechanical properties was obtained when the urethane-dimethacrylate content was smaller than the epoxy-polyester content, respectively 25 and 50 wt%. Conclusions: The system presented in this work could be useful in tissue engineering, where at the beginning of the tissue regeneration process it would meet the implant mechanical properties and then would deliver its porosity, facilitating the tissue regeneration process.