Effect of Mechanical Deformation on in Vitro Calcification of Segmented Polyurethane

Abstract

To investigate why calcification is accelerated by mechanical flexure, in vitro calcification of segmented polyurethane (SPU) under static elongation and dynamic mechanical flexure was performed. After the calcification period, the amount of calcium deposition was increased by elongation, but the amount of calcium deposition per unit area of the elongated surface was relatively smaller as compared to that of the severe flexing area. Although the surface calcium concentration of the elongated SPU was relatively smaller than the flexed area, there was the increase of surface area by the elongation. The total amount of deposited calcium on the elongated SPU was increased as it is reduced to the original surface area. Therefore, the results reveal that certain changes of surface properties by the Mechanical deformation accelerate the calcium deposition onto the surface and the enlargement of surface area by the mechanical deformation results in the heavy calcification of the severe flexing area in the SPU.