Variations between Biomer™ lots. I. Significant differences in the surface chemistry of two lots of a commercial poly(ether urethane)

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Abstract
We have studied the surface chemistry of two lots of Biomer™ (BSP067 and BSUAOOl), and widely used commercial poly(ether urethane) (PEU). Although transmission infrared adsorption studies revealed no differences in the bulk chemistry of the two lots, the surface chemistry, as seen by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), was different. Lot BSP067 showed softsegment enrichment at the surface, which is typical of PEU. Lot BSUAOOl showed no evidence of either hard‐ or soft‐segment PEU components at the surface. The surface of this lot was completely covered with a nonextractable additive identified as poly(diisopropy1 amino ethyl methacrylate). Small amounts of a low‐molecular‐weight antioxidant were observed at the surface of both samples. Because the biological response to polymers is dependent on surface structure, these results are of considerable importance to biomaterials research.