Biocompatible Shape Memory Blend for Self-Expandable Stents with Potential Biomedical Applications

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b04808
• Publication Date: 2017-04-06T09:35:49Z
• Authors: Yu Zheng; Ying Li; Xue Hu; Jiabin Shen; Shaoyun Guo
• Keywords: Polycaprolactone; Biocompatible material; Propylene carbonate

Biocompatible poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC)/polycaprolactone (PCL) shape memory blends were fabricated using melt blending. The performance of these was found to depend remarkably on their components. On addition 25 vol % PCL, one blend (PL-25) achieved an optimal shape-fixing ratio (Rf) and -recovery (Rr). Specifically, its Rr considerably increased by 24.1 50.0% compared with those pure PPC respectively, because the restricted irreversible deformation amorphous chains cross-linked tiny crystals. After undergoing three thermomechanical cycles, Rf reached 97.0%. PL-25 further melt-processed into a stent, which showed fast response self-expansion at 37 °C. These results, along obtained from evaluating material's blood compatibility, in vitro degradation drug release behavior, demonstrated great potential for biomedical applications.