SOFT POLYURETHANE FOAMS AS CARTILAGE REPLACEMENT: PROCESSING BEHAVIOR AND INCOMPATIBILITY

摘要

Massively invasive surgery is often the only cure for the worst cases of cartilage-related diseases. In an effort to physiologically mimic human joints, 4 biomedical thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) differing in glass transition temperature, modulus and wettability were foamed using a CO_2-based solid-state process. Human cartilage mechanical behavior was closely matched by low density foams of the softest TPU investigated. In vitro osteoblastic studies showed improved cell differentiation, activity and proliferation; all suggestive of TPU foans potential osteointegration. The superior bioactivity and cartilage-matching mechanics make the TPU foam a promising cartilage replacement.