Biological stability of polyurethane modified with covalent attachment of di-tert-butyl-phenol.
Polyurethane cardiovascular implants are subject to oxidation initiated surface degradation, which is mediated by monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM); this often leads to surface cracking and device failure. The present studies examined the hypothesis that covalently attaching antioxidant, di-tert-butylphenol (DBP), to the urethane nitrogens of a polyether polyurethane (PU) via bromo-alkylation reactions could prevent this problem. PU was configured with two dosages of DBP, 0.14 mM DBP/g PU of DBP (PU-DBP) and a more highly modified (HM) 0.40 mM DBP/g PU (PU-DBP-HM). THP-1 cells, a human MDM cell line, stimulated with phorbol ester and seeded on PU, PU-DBP, and PU-DBP-HM films were assessed for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production via a fluorescent based dihydrorhodamine-123 assay. Results from these studies showed a significant dose-dependent reduction of ROS levels for THP-1 cells seeded on PU-DBP versus unmodified PU. PU, PU-DBP, or PU-DBP-HM films were implanted into subdermal pouches of Sprague-Dawley rats. Films were explanted after 10 weeks and assessed for oxidative degradation via light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Light microscopy showed extensive surface cracking, which was confirmed via SEM, on unmodified PU surfaces that was absent in both PU-DBP and PU-DBP-HM explanted films. FTIR analysis showed reduction in oxidation-induced ether crosslinking that was directly related to DBP dosages. It is concluded that modifying PU with the covalent attachment of an antioxidant confers biodegradation resistance in vivo in a dose dependent manner; this effect is likely due to quenching of the ROS generated by the adherent macrophages.
Stachelek
Stanley J
SJ
Division of Cardiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 Civic Center Blvd., Abramson Research Bldg., Suite 702, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4318, USA.
Alferiev
Ivan
I
Fulmer
James
J
Ischiropoulos
Harry
H
Levy
Robert J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D010636:Phenols; D011140:Polyurethanes; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C035407:2,6-di-tert-butylphenol