FURI | Summer 2020

Investigating PEG-Polyurethane as the Basis of Bone Scaffolding Technology

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Bone scaffolding technology assists in the repair of major segmental bone injuries by mimicking the structure and function of the natural bone extracellular matrix. Potential for design improvement can be made through various polymeric materials to provide more control over its biocompatibility and other mechanical properties. This research aims to study the structure, function and key properties of Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-polyurethane as the basis of bone scaffolding due to its known qualities of variable degradability and injectability. The structure and purity of the polymer samples were evaluated, while future characterization tests include swelling capacity and degradation rate.

Student researcher

Alicia Salas

Alicia Salas

Biomedical engineering

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Spring 2021