Date of Award
Spring 5-15-2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering
Advisor(s)
Monroe, Mary Beth
Second Advisor
Steinhardt, Rachel C.
Keywords
hemorrhage control, interconnectivity, polyurethane, porous foam, shape memory polymer, wound healing
Subject Categories
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering | Chemical Engineering | Engineering | Polymer Science
Abstract
The ability to tune pore structures of gas-blown polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) foams easily and safely could improve their outcomes as hemostatic dressings or tissue engineering scaffolds and overall commercialization efforts. Incorporating physical blowing agents into the polymer mix can be used to tune pore size and interconnectivity without altering foam chemistry. Enovate (HFC-254fa) is a commonly used physical blowing agent in gas-blown foams, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers its use unacceptable because it is a hydrofluorocarbon that contributes to global warming. Here, off-the-shelf solvents accepted for use by the EPA, acetone, dimethyoxymethane (methylal), and methyl formate, were used as physical blowing agents by adding small volumes during foam fabrication. Increasing the physical blowing agent volume resulted in greater pore interconnectivity while maintaining SMP foam chemical and thermal properties. Pore size and interconnectivity also impacted cell and blood interactions with the foams. This work provides a safe and easy method for tuning SMP foam interconnectivity to aid in future commercialization efforts in a range of potential biomedical applications.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Petryk, Natalie Marie, "Shape Memory Polymer Foaming With Tunable Interconnectivity Using Off-the-shelf Foaming Components" (2022). Theses - ALL. 537.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/537
