(62a) Analysis of Biodegradable Bone/Polyurethane Composite Using Raman Spectroscopy

Severe bone fractures often require autologous bone grafts that involve the use of invasive surgery, which poses numerous risks to the patient. One possible alternative is the use of injectable polyurethane that enhances healing through the natural tissue remodeling process by providing biodegradable bone scaffolding for the cells. This polyurethane biomaterial has been shown to be biocompatible, biodegradable, non-cytotoxic, and facilitates cell migration and proliferation. Furthermore, the injectable nature of the polyurethane allows for minimally invasive surgery and quicker patient recovery time. Previously, the time-intensive method histomorphometry was used to analyze cell growth in the area of interest. The objective of this study is to investigate the use of Raman spectroscopy as a method of quickly and quantitatively analyzing the bone tissue to determine the degree of tissue remodeling in the polyurethane implant site.