title: Nanofibers of Elastin and Hydrophilic Segmented Polyurethane Solution Blends Show Enhanced Mechanical Properties through Intermolecular Protein-Polymer H Bonding.
abstract: Combining mechanical properties with enhanced cell interaction is highly desirable in a biomaterial. In this study, a new paradigm for enhancing the mechanical properties of segmented polyurethanes (SPUs) through solution blending with a biopolymer is presented. This noncovalent approach is based on the premise that molecular level blending of SPUs rich in hydrogen bonding (H bonding) domains with a biopolymer capable of H bonding will promote H-bond bridges between the components, leading to molecular annealing and modification of the physicochemical properties of the SPU. We demonstrate that by solution-blending solubilized elastin with a triblock copolymer-derived SPU, a 5-fold increase in tensile modulus of electrospun constructs of the SPU can be achieved, with concomitant enhancement in human endothelial cell attachment. Spectroscopic and calorimetric analysis confirm the role of H bonding in the enhancement, thus providing the impetus to further explore blending with biopolymers as a means of improving the property profiles of synthetic polymeric biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry, Hermann Staudinger Haus, University of Freiburg , Stefan-Meier Str. 31, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.|BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg , Schänzlestr. 18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heiny
authors.affiliation: Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry, Hermann Staudinger Haus, University of Freiburg , Stefan-Meier Str. 31, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.|BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg , Schänzlestr. 18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: V Prasad
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Shastri
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004548:Elasticity; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes; D004549:Elastin