Effects of N- hydroxysuccinimide Activation on the Surface and Bulk Properties of Polyurethanes Available for Bioconjugation

The polyurethane activation was made in bulk by two distinct synthetic methods, both involving the use of N- hydroxysuccinimide for obtaining water-insoluble materials susceptible to post-synthetic preparation of bioconjugates. The activated esters were obtained either during synthesis, through the direct reaction with isocyanate, or after the preliminary insertion of carboxylic groups by partial or complete substitution of the initial chain extender (1,4 butanediol) with 2,2’-bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid. Representative surface (hydrophilic/hydrophobic behaviour, morphology) and respective bulk (thermal and mechanical) properties were monitored in order to estimate the potential impact of succinimide activation on polyurethanes behaviour. The efficiency of resulting polyurethanes in bioconjugates formation was evaluated through the responses at papain immobilization.