Absorbable polyurethanes from highly reactive aromatic amino acid phenylalanine based isocyanates with tunable degradation profiles were developed. What distinguishes these isocyanates from the commonly used isocyanate, Methylene bis(phenylisocyanate),MDI, is the presence of a degradable linkage bridging the aromatic rings. Furthermore, the degradable linkage in these isocyanates is derived from safe and biocompatible glycolic acid, lactic acid, caprolactone, p-dioxanone and aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine. The polyurethanes derived from these phenylalanine isocyanates and chain extender diols will not only be absorbable but will also possess for the first time degradable hard segments. These absorbable polyurethanes will degrade into safe and biocompatible degradation products upon hydrolysis unlike polyurethanes derived from MDI. These absorbable polyurethanes may find applications in wound healing, adhesion prevention, tissue adhesive and tissue engineering. Synthesis, characterization and applications of these isocyanates and polyurethanes from these isocyanates will be presented and discussed.

Absorbable polyurethanes from phenylalanine

245th National Meeting (2013)

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