Because SMPs exhibit physical properties similar to those of human tissues, they are thought
of as ideal candidates for many medical applications, a topic we discuss in detail below. Although
many SMPUs offer biocompatibility, many groups are attempting to develop new SM materials
that offer a combination of the following characteristics: biocompatibility, bioresorbability,
biodegradability, and low cytotoxicity, among others. In one study, Pierce and coworkers (15)
reported on a thermoplastic poly(ester urethane) that incorporated novel, in-house-synthesized,
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amorphous oligomeric diols based on aliphatic diols and aliphatic diacids or substituted anhydride
as soft segments. In addition to exhibiting low cytotoxicity, their new poly(ester urethane)s showed
an extraordinary high elongation at break of 2106%.