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Open porous foams with identical foam density but different pore-size distributions (bimodal or monomodal) are prepared from a shape-memory polyetherurethane (PEU) by thermally induced phase separation. The shape-memory effect of the two PEU foams is explored by cyclic thermomechanical compression tests and microstructural analysis. The obtained results reveal that the PEU foam with a bimodal pore-size distribution exhibits an increased shape-recovery under stress-free conditions, both on the macro- (foam level) as well as the microscale (pore level). While bimodal pore-size distributions induce microscale bending during compression, buckling occurs in foams with monomodal pore-size distributions, leading to both a reduced and delayed shape recovery.
Polymers exhibiting cell-selective effects represent an extensive research field with high relevance for biomedical applications e.g. in the cardiovascular field supporting re-endothelialization while suppressing smooth muscle cell overgrowth. Such an endothelial cell-selective effect could be recently demonstrated for a copolyetheresterurethane (PDC) containing biodegradable poly(p-dioxanone) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) segments, which selectively enhanced the adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) while suppressing the attachment of smooth muscle cells (SMC).
In this study we investigated the influence of the fibre orientation (random and aligned) and fibre diameter (2 mu m and 500 nm) of electrospun PDC scaffolds on the adhesion, proliferation and apoptosis of HUVEC and SMC.
Adhesion, viability and proliferation of HUVEC was diminished when the fibre diameter was reduced to a submicron scale, while the orientation of the microfibres did only slightly influence the cellular behaviour. In contrast, a submicron fibre diameter improved SMC viability. In conclusion, PDC scaffolds with micron-sized single fibres could be promising candidate materials for cell-selective stent coatings.