Polyurethanes for cardiac applications

Polyurethanes are used in a variety of applications in the cardiovascular field due to their physicochemical and mechanical properties in addition to a good biocompatibility. Since materials used in cardiac devices must bear cyclic stress, their fatigue properties are fundamental to ensure long-term safety and function; for these applications elastomeric-like polyurethanes are suitable materials. Depending on the specific use, polyurethane constituents can be selected to obtain degradable or biostable polymers. A great deal of attention has been paid to the development of prosthetic heart valves, to achieve polyurethane-based materials resistant to degradation. On the other hand, biodegradable polyurethanes are required in the design of materials for cardiac tissue engineering. Moreover, in the latest generation of cardiac devices, biomimetic strategies have been attractive in overcoming problems related to inadequate biointegration