title: A robust super-tough biodegradable elastomer engineered by supramolecular ionic interactions.
abstract: Alginate-based supramolecular ionic polyurethanes (ASPUs) as mechanically tunable biomaterials with high strength and toughness in both dry and hydrated states are developed under metal-free conditions. The Young's modulus and tensile strength of ASPUs are tuned from 30 to 100 MPa, and 20 to 50 MPa, respectively. Interestingly, the ASPUs exhibit a small hysteresis loop, minimal loss of tensile strength and minimal creep deformation after 100 repetitive cycles which makes them of use for engineering of load-bearing tissues. This is the first report that describes a linear PU can resist a large number of cyclic stresses without significant stretching. These bio-based elastomers engineered by ionic interactions are biocompatible and biodegradable. The ASPUs demonstrate a similar in vivo degradation rate compared to polycaprolactone (PCL). These biomaterials also demonstrate a rapid self-healing and recovery after rupture, and have a linear biodegradation profile. Furthermore, histological examination of subcutaneous transplanted ASPUs after five months reveals low immunological response and low fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polyurethane, Iran Polymer & Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran; Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajabi-Zeleti
authors.affiliation: Polymat, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Joxe Mari Korta Center, Avda. Tolosa 72, 20018 San Sebastian, Spain.
authors.forename: Haritz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sardon
authors.affiliation: Department of Polyurethane, Iran Polymer & Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: M.Barikani@ippi.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barikani
authors.affiliation: Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Biomedical Engineering Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khademhosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: baharvand@royaninstitute.org.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baharvand
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020724:Elastomers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020724:Elastomers; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D007477:Ions; D011140:Polyurethanes; D020723:Glucuronic Acid
keywords: Alginate; Biodegradation; Load-bearing tissue; Self-healing; Supramolecular elastomer; Vascular tissue engineering