Thermoresponsive behavior of non-isocyanate poly(hydroxyl)urethane for biomedical composite materials

In this work, non-isocyanate poly(hydroxyl)urethane (NIPHU) was prepared. The chemical structures of the cyclic carbonated polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether and NIPHU were confirmed. The thermoresponsive behavior of NIPHU was researched by Rayleigh light scattering, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy upon heating and cooling. A reversible thermoresponsive behavior from micelles to aggregated structures was discovered above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Thermoresponsive behavior processes, including a micelle stage, aggregation upon heating, disaggregation, a fusion stage, further disaggregate stage, and an additional micelle stage upon cooling, were revealed when the concentration was equal to or below the CMC. Furthermore, the hemocompatibility and biocompatibility of NIPHU were good, as confirmed by a low toxicity by hemolysis, a low cytotoxicity toward L929 cells, and the observed confocal laser scanning microscopy images of the live/dead-stained cells. The potential application of NIPHU should therefore be explored as the component of biomedical composite materials. Graphical abstract Reversible thermoresponsive behavior of non-isocyanate poly(hydroxyl)urethane were investigated