Photoresponsive Polyesters for Tailorable Shape Memory
Biomaterials
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Abstract
The
synthesis of a library of poly(ester urethane)s (PEUs) containing
pendant photoresponsive moieties afforded through the incorporation
of one of two novel bifunctional monomers resulted in degradable materials
with a range of tunable thermal and mechanical properties. Utilizing
light irradiation, macroscopic temporary shapes were fixed by increasing
the cross-link density of a thermoset network via photoinduced reversible
[2 + 2] cycloaddition of cinnamamide or cinnamate pendant groups under
UV light (λ = 302 nm). Further irradiation with UV light (λ
= 254 nm) led to the cleaving of the temporary cross-links and recovery
of the original shape. Examination of these materials under physiological
conditions displayed tunable degradation with rates faster than PCL-based
materials, and initial biocompatibility studies exhibited negligible
cytotoxicity for HeLa cells based on results of ATP assay. The ability
to tune thermal properties also allowed specific polymer compositions
to boast transition temperatures within a range of applicable temperature
for thermal shape memory