3D printable non-Isocyanate polyurethane elastomers for cardiovascular applications

The aim of this work is to develop new polymer-based materials suitable for the design and 3D-printing of various biomedical implants and prostheses, in particular for cardiovascular applications. For that purpose, greener and safer alternatives to existing polyurethanes, called non- isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs), were investigated, and in this case, poly(propylene glycol)-poly(hydroxy-urethane)s (PPG-PHUs) obtained from CO2-sourced cyclic carbonate monomers. By taking advantage of the chemistry of α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates (αCC), these PPG-PHUs can be functionalized by an αCC carrying a pendant unsaturation, allowing their post-photocrosslinking with various polythiols chosen to adjust the mechanical properties of the resulting elastomers.