Lysine Based Poly (ester-urethane) Films for Tissue Engineering Applications

In this study, biodegradable, biocompatible, thermoplastic poly(ester-urethane) (PEU) was synthesized from L-lysine diisocyanate (LDI) and polycaprolactone diol (PCL), and two dimensional (2D) film structures were molded either as smooth or micropatterned forms. Both types were coated with fibrinogen (Fn) to compare the effects of micro patterns and presence of fibrinogen, on the cell behaviour. The films were highly elastic and stable in aqueous media while biodegradable in the presence of lipase. Cell culture studies with rat bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) indicated that polymer was suitable for cell attachment and proliferation and Fn coated surfaces had the highest value where the cells oriented themselves along the micropatterns. In general, formation of micropatterns did not demonstrate an effective variation in cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation, but the Fn coating did. The results indicated that the synthesized lysine based poly(ester-urethane) demonstrated favorable mechanical properties, enhanced Fn adsorption and cell attachment, and therefore suitable for both soft and hard tissue applications.