Title

Atomic Force Microscopic and Encrustation Studies of Novel Prospective Polyisobutylene-based Thermoplastic Elastomeric Biomaterials

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-16-2004

Abstract

This paper investigates the surface morphology of polyisobutylene–polystyrene (PIB–PS) block-type thermoplastic elastomers, emerging new biomaterials, by atomic force microscopy (AFM). A novel aborescent PIB–PS block polymer (AR15) was synthesized through inimer-type living carbocationic polymerization and characterized in comparison with a semi-commercial PIB–PS thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) (TS30). Tapping-mode AFM revealed that PS spheres with a domain size of 45–60 nm were very irregularly distributed in the continuous PIB phase of the aborescent AR15 polymer, whereas ordered and mixed cylindrical/lamellar morphology with 25–31 nm hard phase appeared in a linear TS30 triblock polymer. Moreover, AFM revealed rough surface features of a 1 mm thick compression molded TS30 polymer disk coated with a probiotic protein. AR15 disks were used for in vivo urinary tract encrustation study. Encrustation of the PIB–PS disks was comparable or better than that of medical-grade silicone rubber. The preliminary results imply the prospect of PIB–PS thermoplastic elastomers as emerging soft biomaterials. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Publication Title

Polymers for Advanced Technologies

Volume

14

Issue

12

First Page

763

Last Page

770

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