Biocompatible shape memory polyurethanes with two crystallizable blocks: in situ studies of stricture formation in thin films

The proposed experiment is aimed at studying the structure formation in novel biodegradable polyurethanes for biomedical applications based on multiblock architectures including crystallizable poly(1,4-butylene adipate) and poly(ε-caprolactone) blocks. These materials demonstrate thermo-induced shape memory effect with two switching points below and above human body temperature. We are going to perform time- and temperature-resolved microfocus SAXS/WAXS experiments to address formation of two independent crystal phases of covalently bonded blocks inside one spherulite as a function of time and sample thermal history. In addition, will analyze the polymorphic behavior of spherulites using ultrafast heating/cooling programs. In the proposed experiment, the distribution and thermal behavior of these phases in one single spherulite will be monitored by micro-focus X-ray diffraction combined with nanocalorimetry.