Development and characterization of fibrin and hyaluronan coated biodegradable polyurethane films

grantor: University of TorontoA new family of biodegradable elastomeric polyurethane blends was created. These novel materials were coated with thin layers of fibrin (and hyaluronan (HA)). The effects of varying blend composition on the morphology, mechanical properties and degradation rate were assessed. The polyurethane blends, which degrade on the order of months to years, were found to have mechanical properties similar to those of a commercially available polyurethane wound dressing. Both fibrin and fibrin/HA coatings were achieved on the blends. The surface topology of the polyurethane surfaces appeared to affect coating cohesiveness. This was particularly true for the fibrin coatings, which demonstrated a less uniform appearance than the fibrin/HA coatings. The bi-laminar wound dressings developed in this work could be particularly applicable for skin graft donor site applications, where speed and quality of heating are extremely important factors.M.A.Sc