Rodolfo J. González-Paz

Thiol–yne reaction of alkyne-derivatized fatty acids: biobased polyols and cytocompatibility of derived polyurethanes

With the goal of obtaining renewable diols and polyols for polyurethane (PU) technology, the thiol–yne coupling reaction was applied to alkyne-derivatized fatty acids derived from naturally occurring oleic and 10-undecenoic acids. The resulting monomers were then polymerized with 4,4′-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) to produce the corresponding PUs. The chemical structures and thermal and mechanical properties of the synthesized PUs have been evaluated by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, DSC, TGA and tensile tests respectively. Moreover, the biocompatibilities of the synthesized PUs with human osteoblast-like cell line (MG63) have also been evaluated for tissue engineering purposes.

Enhancement of Fatty Acid-based Polyurethanes Cytocompatibility by Non-covalent Anchoring of Chondroitin Sulfate

For tissue engineering purpose biopolymer chondroitin sulfate (CS), one of the major components of cartilage and bone extracellular matrix, was immobilized onto the surface of amino-functionalized polyurethane (PU) films derived from naturally occurring oleic and 10-undecenoic acids. The amino-functionalized PUs were prepared by aminolysis with 1,6-hexamethylenediamine of synthesized PUs containing methyl ester groups. FTIR-ATR, XPS, SEM, and water contact angle measurements were used to confirm the surface changes at each step of treatment, both in morphologies and chemical composition. Cytotoxicity and cell morphology analysis using osteoblast cell line MG63 showed that PU-CS films are suitable materials for cell growth, spreading, and differentiation.

Study on the interaction between gelatin and polyurethanes derived from fatty acids

In this study, gelatin was blended to proprietary noncytotoxic polyurethanes (PU) derived from vegetable oils with different weight ratios, as material for the preparation of novel biomedical products. The PU/gelatin blends were characterized for their morphology through scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical and thermal properties, chemical interactions between components, degradation behavior, surface properties, cell adhesion, and bioactivity were investigated as a function of the protein content. Higher blend miscibility was observed for the amorphous PUs, derived from oleic acid. Properties of PU/gelatin films were strongly influenced by the concentration of gelatin in the films. Gelatin enhanced the hydrophilicity, bioactivity, and cell adhesion of PUs.