Platelet-compatible hydrophilic segmented polyurethanes from polyethylene glycols and cyclohexane diisocyanate.

A new type of segmented polyurethane (SPU) was synthesized from alpha, omega polyethylene oxide diols (PEG) of MW varying from 600 to 4500, by end capping with 1,4 trans cyclohexane diisocyanate (CHDI) and chain extending with ethylene diamine (ED) in toluene with dibutyl tin dilaurate as catalyst. These SPU are cast as films and coatings from hexafluroisopropanol (HFIP). Depending on PEG MW, these SPU swell two- to tenfold in water. Examined by an in vitro platelet retention test, these SPU are more bland (platelet retention -rho around 0.05) than most other polymers, whereas an alternating copolymer of CHDI and ED shows -rho around 0.80 (very active); x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the surfaces of these SPU to a depth of about 40 Ao are nearly pure PEO, unlike SPU synthesized from aromatic diisocyanates TDI and MDI.