Polyurethane/Dermatan Sulfate Copolymers as Hemocompatible, Non-Biofouling Materials

The range of application of polyurethanes has been limited by their poor hemocompatibility and inability to resist non‐specific binding of biomolecules and cells. In this work, a non‐adhesive PU‐based material was synthesized via the copolymerization of PU with dermatan sulfate. Incorporation of DS into the PU backbone dramatically increased material hydrophilicity and decreased protein adsorption. The in vitro adhesion of several cell types, including platelets, also significantly decreased with increasing DS content. Both the physical and biological properties of the DS contributed to the anti‐adhesive properties of the PU/DS copolymer, and this anti‐adhesive nature of PU/DS renders this new biomaterial attractive for blood‐contacting or non‐fouling applications. While most approaches to creating non‐biofouling materials have used passive, synthetic molecules, herein we describe the ability to deter protein adsorption and the adhesion of multiple cell types via incorporation of a natural glycosaminoglycan molecule into a polyurethane polymer chain.