Synthesis and Properties of Polyurethanes Based on Synthetic Polyhydroxybutyrate for Medical Application

Polyurethanes is a group of polymers whose unique properties make them useful in both the construction and the textile industry, and even in tissue engineering. One small, but very significant, urethane group connects specially selected macrochains to obtain a material with established properties. The chapter is a literature review for research on the synthesis and properties of new degradable polyurethanes that contain soft segments synthesized with synthetic telechelic poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) (R,S-PHB). Incorporation of oligomeric R,SPHB (what was found degradable and biocompatible) into polyurethane structures gives them a chance of improving the properties important for medical applications. Aliphatic and aromatic polyurethanes with different soft segments were investigated due to their potential to be used in soft tissue regeneration.