Although surface interactions between polymers and cells have shown significant promise in enhancing medical device functionality, little work has been performed to evaluate similar techniques for thermosensitive shape memory polymers (SMPs). Over the last 10 years, we have developed a variety of minimally invasive medical devices using SMPs; however, these devices are used in areas that do not require barrier membrane coverage to be useful. Facilitating endothelial attachment to SMP surfaces should help expand the range of cardiovascular applications for these promising materials.<br/><br/>In this work, we evaluate the effect of varying chemical makeup of these shape memory polymers on endothelial cell attachment, while maintaining the shape memory functionality. This is accomplished mainly by altering percent composition of the monomer components and molecular weight of the crosslinking agent. Extensive work has been performed to assess the thermomechanical and bulk consequences of manipulating chemical composition of SMPs due to the marked effects on the shape memory capabilities of the material; few studies, however, investigate the result of varying chemical makeup on the surface properties and cell compatibility of these materials. A greater understanding of the material surface properties and the material-cell interface will facilitate the expansion of these materials to more realms of biomedical devices.

Endothelial cell attachment on shape memory polymer surfaces

249th National Meeting (2015)

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